Sakra (film)

Sakra is a 2023 wuxia film directed by Donnie Yen, who also co-produced the film with Wong Jing. It is adapted from the wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils written by Jin Yong. The film stars Donnie Yen, Chen Yuqi, and Cya Liu, and it was released in OTT platforms in China at 2023 Chinese New Year where it was the top Chinese New Year release across the three biggest streaming platform IQiyi, Tencent and Youku, streaming revenues exceeded the film's budget within 10 days of release. It was also released in theatres in Malaysia and Singapore on 16 January 2023 where it ranked as one of the top Chinese film in terms of box office in 2023.

Plot
As a baby, Khitan-born Qiao Feng loses his parents and is sent to be raised by a couple from the Song Empire, which is at war with the Khitan-led Liao Empire. He grows up and becomes a powerful chief of the Beggars' Sect, utilizing martial arts in battles. However, he is framed for the murder of deputy chief Ma Dayuan by his wife Lady Ma, and is kicked out from the sect after they discover his origin as the Khitan people. He is also slandered of the murder of his adoptive father and mother. When he goes to the Shaolin Temple to visit his master, he finds that his master was dead. When he is hiding behind the Buddha statue in the Bodhi Temple, he is discovered by the head of the Shaolin sect, Abbot Xuanci, the head of the Bodhi Temple, Xuan Nan, and the head of the Discipline Temple, Xuan Ji. He is besieged by three eminent monks. When Xuanci uses one of Shaolin's seventy-two stunts, the "Great Vajra Palm", Qiao Feng inadvertently implicates Azhu, causing her to be seriously injured as Azhu is pretending to be a Shaolin monk Zhi Qing to steal the "Yi Jin Jing", the secret of Shaolin Temple's inner strength. Unexpectedly, he was hit by the "Dajang Fist" of the Shaolin leader Abbot Xuanci and was seriously injured. Qiao Feng believes that "the reason why she was seriously injured was all because of me, so I had no choice but to cure her."

Due to Azhu being heavily injured, Qiao Feng takes her to be healed by doctor Xue Muhua regardless of the fact that almost all kung fu master of were preparing to kill him for getting a good reputation of justice for them as they consider he is a devil that need to be get rid of. Once they arrive at the Heroes Gathering Manor, they are rejected as he was considered the son of a Khitan terrorist and an enemy of Song Dynasty and they think they are the embodiment of justice and need to kill Qiao Feng to make themselves as a hero of martial, Qiao Feng denounced doctors for being arrogant and losing their principle of treating life equally as a doctor. Soon, Qiao Feng decides to sacrifice his life to save hers. After Qiao Feng drinks with the Beggars' Sect to sever ties, he fights against them. Near the end of the battle, a wounded Qiao Feng is saved by a mysterious person who kills most of the assailants.

Azhu is healed by Xue Muhua because Xue is afraid of Qial Fung kill most of the kung fu master in Heroes Gathering Manor, who intends to keep her until Qiao Feng returns. Azhu ends up escaping, burning down Xue Muhua and his medical station in the process. Meanwhile, Qiao Feng starts to question his morality and origin after killing Song soldiers to save Khitan citizens during a sandstorm. Qiao Feng and Azhu soon reunite, professing their love for each other. Qiao Feng, who has renamed himself to Xiao Feng to reflect his true nationality, starts to search for the "Leading Big Brother", who was responsible for the ambush that killed his parents when he was a baby. Azhu goes undercover as Lady Ma, the true murderer of Ma Dayuan, and talks to Bai Shijing, who serves as her co-conspirator. Seeing through Azhu's disguise, he lies to her and tells her that Dali emperor Duan Zhengchun is the Leading Big Brother.

Qiao Feng and Azhu head to Mirror Lake, where they learn that he has conceived several children with several wives, with Azhu being one of the children. Upon learning this, Azhu stops Qiao Feng from killing Duan Zhengchun by disguising herself as him, causing him to unintentionally kill her. While mourning Azhu's death, Duan Zhengchun tells Qiao Feng that he is not the Leading Big Brother.

Qiao Feng, who ends up being accompanied by Azhu's sister Azi, confronts Bai Shijin and Kang Min. Soon, Murong family head Murong Fu and his army arrive, killing Bai Shijin and Kang Min. Qiao Feng fights Murong Fu while Azi fends off the army. At one point in the battle, Qiao Feng ends up nearly losing consciousness, but is able to get up and defeat Murong Fu after remembering his Buddha teachings when he was young. With the battle over, Azi and the arriving Beggars' Sect members watch as Qiao Feng rides away.

Some time later, Qiao Feng, as promised, takes Azhu's remains to the country side and buries her as his wife. He confesses that she will always be with him while giving her updates about her family including her mom moving in with her father then leaving again and Azi disappearing to roam the world. As Qiao Feng leaves, the scene changes to what life would've been if he and Azhu had left everything behind and raised cattle. Qiao Feng and Azi then ride horseback towards a potential hostile army.

In a mid-credit scene, Murong Fu is revived by his father Murong Bu. In a second mid-credits scene, Murong Bu visits Qiao Yuanshan, Qiao Feng's biological father, who survived the Leading Big Brother's attack, abandoned Qiao Feng, murdered Qiao Feng's adoptive parents and Xuanku, and saved Qiao Feng from the fight at the Heroes Gathering Manor.

Production
Principal photography for the film started on 27 July 2022 and concluded in October 2022. In April 2022, the film was registered as a "web-distributed film" in China National Radio and Television Administration. In May 2022, the first concept poster was released during the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. The production crew was also announced, including Donnie Yen as the director, producer and lead cast. In July 2022, Cya Liu indicated that she would join the cast during the interview with Oriental Daily News. In August 2022, Grace Wong posted a photo on social media, showing herself wearing a Sakra T-shirt at Hengdian World Studios. In September 2022, a behind-the-scene video clip showing Donnie Yen and Chen Yuqi was released. In October 2022, the film ended filming, and moved on to post-production.

Release
In December 2022, it was announced that the film was scheduled for release in theatres in Malaysia on 16 January 2023.

Sakra did well in its theatrical release in Southeast Asia, grossing a total of Singapore Dollar 955,000 in Singapore, the fifth highest grossing Asian film in 2023  as well as close to Malaysia Ringgit 6 million, the sixth highest grossing Asian film in Malaysia for 2023.

In Mainland China, it was one of the most streamed movies in 2023 alongside Avatar: The Way of Water and received the award for outstanding streaming movie at the Golden Swan festival held in Macau on 16 December 2023 in recognition of the film's strong streaming revenue.

Reception
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports an approval rating of 70% based on 20 reviews. Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com gave the film three stars and called it "a surprisingly well-realized star vehicle and adaptation."