Flowers of Shanghai (Hai shang hua)

Critics Consensus

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90%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

79%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 2,224
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Movie Info

Shanghai, the 1880s, four elegant brothels (flower houses): each has an auntie (the madam), a courtesan in her prime, older servants, and maturing girls in training. The men gather around tables of food, playing drinking games. An opium pipe is at hand. The women live within dark-paneled walls. The atmosphere is stifling, as if Chekov was in China. The melancholy Wang is Crimson's patron; will he leave her for the younger Jasmin? Emerald schemes to buy her freedom, aided by Luo, a patron. Pearl, an aging flower, schools the willful Jade, who thinks she has a marriage agreement with young master Zhu. Is she dreaming? Women fade, or connive, or despair.
  • Rating:
    NR (adult situations)
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Hsiao-hsien Hou
  • Written By:
    T'ien-wen Chu
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Wellspring Media Inc.

Cast

Tony Leung Chiu Wai
as Wang Lingsheng
Michiko Hada
as Crimson
Lee Yu-ming
as Azhu
Michelle Reis
as Emerald
Fang Hsuan
as Jade
Luo Tsai-erh
as Hong
Carina Lau
as Pearl
Wei Hsiao-hui
as Jasmin
Annie Shizuka Inoh
as Golden Flower
Jack Kao
as Luo
Hsu Ming
as Tao
Vicki Zhao Wei
Rebecca Pan
as Huang
Shuan Fang
as Jade
Lin Yu-han
as Treasure
Simon Chang
as Zhu Shuren
Lee Yu-hang
as Tang
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Critic Reviews for Flowers of Shanghai (Hai shang hua)

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (1)

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Flowers of Shanghai (Hai shang hua)

  • Mar 25, 2016
    A gorgeous-looking film with a beautiful art direction and a camera that appears to glide through the sumptuous spaces and rooms of those four brothels in 38 stunning long takes, making it feel almost like a travel in time to the atmospheric Shanghai of the end of the 19th century.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 12, 2009
    Multiple viewings in a theater setting MIGHT get this more stars. ... could also induce suicide.
    Bob S Super Reviewer
  • Jul 10, 2009
    moving very slowly from one blackout scene to the next, beautifully shot in the candlelit rooms of various brothels of the 19th century, flowers of shanghai explores the intrigues of 'flower girls' or courtesans, sold as children into a life little better than slavery. there's alot of drinking, gambling and opium smoking and the film requires a good deal of patience. i probably need to watch it again as i felt as though i had smoked opium myself afterward
    Stella D Super Reviewer
  • Aug 06, 2006
    Hou Hsiao Hsien's play-like story of a famed brothel (Flower House) in Shanghai is a study of manners in late 19-century China. Sublimely restrained in parts, the opening sequences introducing each courtesan (flower girl) is exquisite and captivating... but I have to admit that I fell asleep in parts and it is pretty slow. The dubbing of Crimson's character also bothered me a fair bit. I loved Pearl and Emerald though, and I wish we could have seen more of Carina Lau's lovely, calm performance of the daughter of the house. Michelle Reis is great fun as the brash, arrogant, independent courtesan, so different from the other meek girls. Too many drinking game scenes! Beautiful score though, and Tony Leung is good although not spectacular. However, I did really love how Flowers... felt like a play in the theatre, from its fades in and out to its static mise-en-scene, but incorporated some great close-up shots of Crimson and Wang sitting quietly, etc. Worth another watch, but not anytime soon.
    Krystle C Super Reviewer
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