Flowers of Shanghai (1998)

68 %
based on 105 user ratings
Flowers of Shanghai on IMDb 7.4/10 2,003 votes

Released:
1998-10-01

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”.

Director:
Hou Hsiao-hsien

Runtime:
1h 53min

Genre:
Drama

  • Cast:
  • Tony Leung Chiu-wai
    as
    Wang
  • Michiko Hada
    as
    Crimson
  • Carina Lau
    as
    Pearl
  • Michele Reis
    as
    Emerald
  • Jack Kao
    as
    Luo