WINE 'N WATCH PARTY June 22nd: MIRAGE (1987) - Rare Action Stunt Spectacular
A custom version with the original Mandarin language track and English subtitles not available ANYWHERE else!
You knew we had to do it eventually (well, WE knew we had to do it eventually): OUR FIRST VIRTUAL WATCH PARTY!!!
And we’re kicking it off with a doozy: a movie that has long been OOP and rare to find. Even better, our version will be streamed in its original Mandarin audio with custom English subtitles - a combo not available ANYWHERE ELSE.
The film in question? One of my all-time fave action flicks, criminally forgotten: MIRAGE (aka MIRAGE OF MARTIAL ARTS) from 1987.
Directed by Tsui Siu-Ming, one of the great Golden Age Hong Kong action choreographers. He co-directed THE BUDDHIST FIST with Yuen Woo-Ping, but he his mainland work with HOLY ROBES OF THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE (1985) and MIRAGE (1987) alientated him from his Hong Kong contemporaries, making his output far less than theirs. Nevertheless, nearly all his films are worth watching (also look for BURY ME HIGH to complete the list of his biggest bangers!)
The stunts and action set pieces in this film have to be seen to be believed!
SYNOPSIS: Photographer and adventurer Tong (Yu Rong-Guang) spots a mirage of a beautiful woman while on a mission and is obsessed by the beauty of her. Heading into Mongolia with his best friend (played by director Tsui Siu-Ming), the discovery of the woman and her true nature is anything but beautiful, however, as she’s the leader of a gang of desert bandits!
Here’s is an excellent primer on the movie which includes the historical context for how it came to be, and why it’s been forgotten:
WHEN Is Wine ‘N Watch Party?
Sunday, June 22nd, 11am PST / 2pm EST / 7pm Monday June 23rd London time
WHO Can Wine ‘N Watch Party?
This first one is free to all to register for and join. Future watch parties will be for paid subs only, and we have some even MORE incredible rare films and DIY indie gems which you have almost assuredly never heard of in the works! Some of them will even have the filmmakers present!
HOW Do We Wine ‘N Watch Party?
We will be hosting this pah-tay over ZOOM. The movie will stream via the zoom interface and…*cough*there may unofficially also be a way to play the film locally from your own device.*cough*
But you gotta register to partake of any of it:
(And hint: even if you ultimately can’t make it, it’ll be worth your time to register.)
WHAT Do We Drink With Watch Party?
We’re so glad we you asked!
MIRAGE takes place in a desert landscape, with a pulp Indiana Jones aesthetic. It’s full of zany characters, wild set pieces, the baking hot sun, and lots of dry, dusty landscapes.
As such, we are recommending everyone bring an ORANGE WINE to the party.
What the hell is “Orange Wine”? If you haven’t heard of it or had it before, orange wine is a wine made from white grapes that are soaked on their white skins like a red wine is on thier red skins. The pigments extracted turn the liquid light orange to dark amber, depending.
You get the tannins from the skins (which leaves that “dry”, “dusty” feeling in your mouth!), also texture and weight and aromas and flavors that aren’t present in a simpler white wine.
OUR SUGGESTION: Go to a wine shop, or at least a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, etc. Ask them for an “orange wine”, and ask if they have a strong, robust one. Get those desert-dry tannins! Something that’ll sandpaper your mouth until it bleeds (okay, not until it bleeds, but you know what we mean.) Feel free to try it the night before, and decide whether you like it room temperature or with a slight chill on it.
If you’d like some specific suggestions, here’s a few:
TOP SUGGESTION: Find an orange wine made from Ribolla Gialla from the Friuli-Venezia region of Italy. Or a Georgian Rkatsiteli (just make sure it’s skin contact/orange!)
If you live near a Trader Joe’s:
They have their “SLICE” Orange wine in stock for the summer, and this is an exceptional orange wine for the price. Bursting with flavor and texture. At least it was last year. Here’s hoping the current vintage continues to impress!
If You Live Near a Total Wine
Then you’ll probably be spoilt for choice! But here’s one in specific we can rec:
Kivelstadt Cellars Wayward Son Skin Fermented Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris - same grape!) tends to make very gentle, softly tannic skin contact wine. But just LOOK at this bad boy! It’s borderline red! Likely this will be gentler than most orange wines this dark in hue, let should still carry enough heft to match the movie.
We Hope to See You There!
Don’t forget to REGISTER, even if you’re not 100% sure you can make it! (trust us.)
And here’s to a Sunday of orange wine and incredible death-defying stunts and Lawrence of Arabia epic storytelling with a mainland Chinese twist!
And if you’d like to be sure you don’t miss our future watch parties, make sure you subscribe!
Love this concept, and dope cover art! Will definitely tune in if possible (London time).
This sounds epic!