Flowers of Shanghai
海上花
Synopsis
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”.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Flowers of Shanghai | Restoration Trailer | Opens July 2Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-06-29
Top Cast
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Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Wang
Michiko Hada
Crimson
Carina Lau
Pearl
Michele Reis
Emerald
Jack Kao
Luo
Rebecca Pan
Huang
Stephanie Fong Shuan
Jade
Annie Shizuka Inoh
Golden Flower
Vicky Wei
Jasmin
Firebird Liu
Vagabond #2
Hsu Hui-Ni
Shu-Fang's sister
Shuan Fang
Jade
Hsiao-Hui Wei
Hsu Ming
Tao
Josephine A. Blankstein
Simon Chang
Zhu Suren
Tony Chang
Peking Opera Actor
Yiu-Ming Lee
Azhu
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 5, 1998
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Screenplay & Story
- Bangqing Han, Chu Tien-Wen, Eileen Chang
- Original Score
- Tu Duu-chih, Yoshihiro Hanno
- Original Title
- 海上花
- Country of Origin
- Taiwan
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin, Cantonese
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Production Studios
- 3-H Films, Shochiku
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Bangqing Han, Chu Tien-Wen, Eileen Chang
Tu Duu-chih, Yoshihiro Hanno
Mark Lee Ping-Bing
Liao Ching-sung
Yang Teng-Kuei, Shôzô Ichiyama, Hou Hsiao-hsien
Department Leadership Roster
Huang Wen-ying
Production Design
Tu Duu-chih
Original Music Composer
Liao Ching-sung
Editor
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Director
Yoshihiro Hanno
Original Music Composer
Chu Tien-Wen
Writer
Mark Lee Ping-Bing
Director of Photography
Yang Teng-Kuei
Producer
Shôzô Ichiyama
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Flowers of Shanghai.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Flowers of Shanghai.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Flowers of Shanghai
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Flowers of Shanghai about?
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”.
Who directed Flowers of Shanghai?
Flowers of Shanghai was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien.
Who stars in Flowers of Shanghai?
The principal cast of Flowers of Shanghai includes Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Michiko Hada, Carina Lau, Michele Reis, Jack Kao.
When was Flowers of Shanghai released and how long is it?
Flowers of Shanghai was released in 1998 with a total runtime of 1h 53m.
Who composed the musical score for Flowers of Shanghai?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Flowers of Shanghai was composed by Tu Duu-chih, Yoshihiro Hanno.
Is Flowers of Shanghai based on a book or true story?
Flowers of Shanghai is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Bangqing Han", Novel: "Eileen Chang".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Flowers of Shanghai?
Flowers of Shanghai holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).