ABSTRACT
This chapter is inspired by John Woo’s Chinese diasporic status to analyze the historical effects of his fi rst Chinese-language epic fi lm, the four-hourlong diptych Red Cliff (Part I, 2008; Part II, 2009), from the perspectives of the fi lm’s production and reception.3 Joining thousands of refugees and emigrants from China to escape political turmoil such as Chinese involvement in the Korean War and Cultural Revolution, mainland-born Woo (born May 1, 1946) moved with his family to the British colony Hong Kong
chineseepicanddiasporicspectators at the age of fi ve. The Woos spent a number of years in hardship living in a local slum area. Young Woo was lucky enough to be sponsored by an American family to receive his education which his family could not afford to give him. Woo gradually developed his love for cinema during his formative years while under the inspiration of Christianity from the local Catholic school he attended.
