Flowers of Shanghai (1998)

6.9/10 113 min 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”.

Cast

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Wang

Michiko Hada

Crimson

Carina Lau

Pearl

Michele Reis

Emerald

Jack Kao

Luo

Rebecca Pan

Huang

Annie Shizuka Inoh

Golden Flower

Vicky Wei

Jasmin

Hsu Ming

Tao

Recommendations

Shanghai Triad
One Second
Black Dog
Raise the Red Lantern
Tigertail
Caught by the Tides
Hammett
Taipei Story
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
Farewell My Concubine
Buddha Mountain
Upstream
So Long, My Son
Gigi & Nate
A Call to Spy
The Secret Garden
The Truth About Emanuel
The Piano Lesson
The Continent
The Visit