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Rating: 7.5 stars

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taiwan Criterion brothel 1800s 1880s shanghai jealousy opium upper class

All movies seen on 11/03/2021

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Flowers of Shanghai (1998)

Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien

Drama

Overview

At the end of the 19th century, Shanghai is divided into several foreign concessions. In the British concession, a number of luxurious “flower houses” are reserved for the male elite of the city. Since Chinese dignitaries are not allowed to frequent brothels, these establishments are the only ones that these men can visit. They form a self-contained world, with its own rites, traditions and even its own language. The men don’t only visit the houses to frequent the courtesans but also to dine, smoke opium, play mahjong and relax. The women working there are known as the “flowers of Shanghai”.

Rated NR | Length 113 minutes

Actors

Tony Leung Chiu-Wai | Michiko Hada | Carina Lau | Michelle Reis | Jack Kao | Rebecca Pan | Stephanie Fong Shuan | Annie Shizuka Inoh | Pauline Chan Bo-Lin | Vicky Wei | Firebird Liu | Hsu Hui-Ni | Shuan Fang | Hsiao-Hui Wei | Hsu Ming | Josephine A. Blankstein | Simon Chang | Tony Chang | Yiu-Ming Lee | Yu-han Lin | Wei-kuo Chiang | Yu-Hang Lee | Tsai-erh Luo | Moon Wang | Yan Xie

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

Cracked open my new Blu from the Criterion flash sale to get back on the Tony Leung train. Initially was surprised (when I placed my order) that this was the only Hou Hsiao-hsien film in the Collection. But after viewing the movie I watched the Tony Ryans intro, which is not an intro as described but a breakdown the film, so I’m glad I didn’t watch before the movie. Anyways, it was produced this year! So this is a 2021 Criterion release! Wow.

Seems even more criminal that this is the only HHH film in their collection given all the films he’s made and how prominent and popular he became prior to making this movie. Ah well, maybe Criterion will make up for this and release more of his work as he deserves.

This film is really good in a very sit back and chill way. It’s like nothing happens yet a lot happens in this 1880 period piece set inside an upper class brothel where the women are more important than the men who come to see them. There’s really only 4 sets and 3 storylines that mildly intersect. The women are great esp. Michiko Hada and Michelle Reis. So catty yet restrained at times. Leung is very good being reserved yet contemplative regarding his situation, caught between two women.

A lot to chew on and Tony Rayns’ “intro” was helpful in examining the finer details of what HHH was doing. I can see my rating go up on subsequent viewings.

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