Unknown Action Performer
“Good, you’re pretty” (“Satyr Monks”)
On the basis of her screen name, Nadeki Fujimi
appears to be another female action performer of Japanese origin whose
martial artistry, physical conditioning and distinctive screen presence
helped define the conventions of “Girls With Guns” (GWG) contemporary action
films of early 1990s Hong Kong cinema. However, unlike Yukari Oshima
or Michiko Nishiwaki, Nadeki Fujimi has remained essentially unacknowledged
in English language sources and film reviews. Not even John Charles’
encyclopedic review of recent HK cinema, The Hong Kong Filmography,
1977 – 1997, identifies her by name, despite relatively favorable and
detailed reviews of a number of her films.
Such omission is all the more surprising as Nadeki
held leading roles in several relatively prominent action films as well
as appearing alongside or opposite some of the leading action actors in
the HK industry. Some Japanese performers such as Madoka Sugawara
or Yoko Miyamoto are credited in English language sources despite only
a single principal appearance in action films. While it might be
argued that these titles (“Naked Killer,” 1992 and “Lethal Panther,” 1991)
have attained a certain cult status and associated lasting popularity with
Western fans of GWG genre films, the same could also be said of “Crystal
Hunt” (1991) – a quite widely marketed title in which Nadeki stars.
Yet, despite one of the lead roles, Nadeki is not credited in the promotional
material for the dubbed version. She remains a vaguely familiar yet
unacknowledged presence who nevertheless impresses with martial arts virtuosity.
Nadeki’s filmography includes roles in 10 Hong
Kong or Taiwanese titles released between 1989 and 1994, and her career
illustrates the vagaries of the genre. Four of her earliest parts
were in action films that represent some of the best GWG titles (“Killer
Angels,” 1989; “Mission of Condor,” 1990; “Crystal Hunt,” 1991; “Cheetah
on Fire,” 1992). These were quickly followed by appearances in lower
budget Taiwanese productions (“Lady Killer,” 1992; “Wonderful Killer,”
1993; “Pink Panther,” 1993), and finally in supporting action roles within
Cat. III films (“Erotic Passion,” 1993; “Satyr Monks,” 1994; “Rock on Fire,”
1994).
Despite a relatively small filmography, Nadeki’s
parts were generally substantial, and provided a hard, sometimes relentless
contrast to the more accessible characters played by Moon Lee, Sibelle
Hu, Sharla Cheung Man and Carrie Ng with whom she appeared. As with
most other non-Chinese action performers, Nadeki was initially cast as
the villain in supporting roles. Her later roles as a hero would
be mainly in lesser titles. Nadeki’s best part was arguably in “Crystal
Hunt” where a combination of ample screen time, good cinematography, a
fine action cast, interesting costuming and excellent fight choreography
yielded an entertaining mix. Another strong role was in the Cat.
III actioner “Rock on Fire” in which Nadeki’s grim-faced cop persona serves
as a dramatic foil for the depravity of just about every other character.
But it is perhaps the relatively obscure Taiwanese film “Pink Panther”
that offered Nadeki her most interesting part, in which she starred in
a pure vengeance role as the leader of an all-female vigilante gang exacting
retribution for partner violence.
