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Flowers of Shanghai
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”.
1998 · Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien · 113 min · Drama · 10 frames
Crew
- Written by: Chu Tien-Wen
- Cinematography: Mark Lee Ping-Bing
- Edited by: Liao Ching-sung
- Music: Tu Duu-chih, Yoshihiro Hanno
- Production design: Huang Wen-ying
- Produced by: Yang Teng-Kuei, Shôzô Ichiyama
Cast
- Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Wang
- Michiko Hada as Crimson
- Carina Lau as Pearl
- Michele Reis as Emerald
- Jack Kao as Luo
- Rebecca Pan as Huang
- Stephanie Fong Shuan as Jade
- Annie Shizuka Inoh as Golden Flower
- Vicky Wei as Jasmin
- Firebird Liu as Vagabond #2
Production
- Country: Taiwan
- Language: Mandarin, Cantonese
- Studios: 3-H Films, Shochiku
- Themes: shanghai, china, brothel, courtesan, 19th century
More by Hou Hsiao-hsien
On this film
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