Summaries

Biopic of 1930s Chinese actress Lingyu Ruan.

A film so delicate you can almost break it off in your hand, this is a stunning biography of Ruan Lingyu, China's first real movie star, a woman who lived a "colorful" life and was dead before she was 30. Director Stanley Kwan deftly mixes his narrative with actual film clips, re-creations of lost films, interviews with survivors, and his own conversations with his cast. The result is a kaleidoscope of emotion and tragedy. Maggie Cheung is nothing less than astonishing as Ruan, and she is ably supported by Tony Leung (of Anna's the lover).—STSH

Details

Keywords
  • actress
  • suicide
  • 1930s
  • chinese filmmaking as subject
  • silent filmmaking as subject
Genres
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • Biography
Release date Feb 19, 1992
Countries of origin Hong Kong
Language English Mandarin Cantonese
Filming locations China
Production companies Golden Harvest Company Golden Way Films Ltd. Paragon Films Ltd.

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 2h 6m
Color Color
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.85 : 1

Synopsis

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