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Catalog/Drama/Flowers of Shanghai
Flowers of Shanghai poster
A
Excellent
MASTER SCORE 81.2 / 100
1998·Drama / Romance·1h 53m

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”.

Above the Line
Hsiao-Hsien Hou·DirectorChu Tien-Wen·WriterBangqing Han·NovelMark Lee Ping-Bing·Director of PhotographyYoshihiro Hanno·Original Music ComposerLiao Ching-sung·Editor
Cast
Tony Leung Chiu-wai·WangMichiko Hada·CrimsonCarina Lau·PearlMichele Reis·EmeraldJack Kao·LuoRebecca Pan·HuangStephanie Fong Shuan·JadeAnnie Shizuka Inoh·Golden FlowerVicky Wei·JasminFirebird Liu·Vagabond #2
Full Crew
(16 credits)
Directing· 1
Hou Hsiao-hsien·Director
Writing· 3
Chu Tien-Wen·WriterBangqing Han·NovelEileen Chang·Novel
Camera· 1
Mark Lee Ping-Bing·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Liao Ching-sung·Editor
Sound & Music· 3
Yoshihiro Hanno·Original Music ComposerTu Duu-chih·Original Music ComposerYu Teng Hsu·Boom Operator
Art & Design· 4
Huang Wen-ying·Art DirectionHuang Wen-ying·Production DesignChih-Wei Tsao·Art DirectionLiao Shu-Chen·Makeup Artist
Production· 3
Yang Teng-Kuei·ProducerShôzô Ichiyama·ProducerHou Hsiao-hsien·Executive Producer
By the Numbers
81.2
OF 100
Master Score
7.3
OF 10
IMDb
93%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
—
Worldwide Gross
0
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Flowers of Shanghai's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#28291E
#D3B16A
#778B59
Mood
Melancholic, Serene
Composition
Centered
Era
1930s
Visual Style
Illustrated

“The poster features a stylized illustration with a dark, muted color palette. Dominating the foreground are large, golden-yellow chrysanthemum flowers with intr”

Key Elements
Chrysanthemum FlowersWomen's Faces
Atmosphere
Muted
Color Mood
Mixed
Setting
Abstract
Design Score
7/10
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