Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002)
a.k.a. ITAL Le Pacte des Loups END (2001)
Directed by Cristophe Gans

This fast-paced mix of French costume drama, Western, horror and Hong Kong
martial arts flick met many of the expectations we had for ITAL Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon. END We had hoped the latter would emphasize the progressive
aspects of martial arts films: Sympathy with the oppressed, self-sacrifice in
the struggle to right wrongs, a recognition of the need for armed struggle, etc.
While 'Crouching Tiger' was technically impressive and its fight scenes great
fun, the motivation for the fights was individualistic and metaphorical. The
violence in 'Brotherhood' on the other hand is not rooted in ideas about honor,
rather the hard-nosed reality that reactionary classes seek to cling to power by
even the most horrific means. And although it's not quite at ITAL Crouching
Tiger's END technical level, ITAL Brotherhood END has a nice look and some
decent fight scenes.

ITAL Brotherhood END also scores points for giving wimmin fighting roles -- and
not apologizing for those wimmin who fight on the wrong side. One of the
protagonists pays a heavy price for hesitating to strike a womyn -- perhaps out
of feudal/pseudo-feminist chivalry, desire, or a mistaken assessment of her
allegiance. Several plot twists like this illustrate the importance of the
principle 'know your enemy.'

And for viewers who think that the clerico-fascist scheme in ITAL Brotherhood
END is pure fantasy, we suggest you check out the real life events behind the
movie ITAL Z END or the ITAL tad tad END (literally, 'chop chop') sect in the
Philippines. As we said in our review of ITAL Tales from the HOOD, END "What
could make for better horror than the real-life monsters created by imperialism,
capitalism and patriarchy?"