Film Challenge Week 13: A film from the year you were born
Film: Shanghai Triad (1995)
Genre: Crime/Drama
Watched on: Kanopy
Upon stumbling across this film on Kanopy, I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of watching another film directed by Zhang Yimou, starring Gong Li. Back in college, I distinctly remember watching Raise the Red Lantern in my Chinese Cinema class, which left me breathless at the end. Gong Li is an incredibly talented actress who shines particularly brightly in Zhang Yimou's world, with each shot meticulously crafted.
Shanghai Triad marked their seventh collaboration together. Interestingly, I learned that upon wrapping filming for Shanghai Triad, Gong Li and Zhang Yimou agreed to end their relationship on both a personal and professional level – a rabbit hole I need to delve into for another day. They did collaborate on that Jay Chou film, Curse of the Golden Flower, 11 years later.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
Through the perspective of a young boy named Tang Shuisheng, we are introduced to the world of triads and the life of a cabaret singer.
What I believe to be Shuisheng's most eventful week of his life, he witnesses an opium deal go left, his boss's mistress having an affair, and a gang fight that leaves a few people dead. As quickly as he is introduced to Shanghai and the triad world, he is removed from it when a hit is put out on the triad boss he works for. Hiding out on a secluded island, betrayal comes to light with a few executions as the solution to the problem.
This is essentially the highlight reel of the film, which is beautifully shot with the most astounding costume design and immaculate sets.
Gong Li playing Jinbao stuns as the cabaret singer and mistress of the triad boss. As Shuisheng serves as her errand boy, a lot of the film centers around her as he heeds her every beck and call. We witness her loneliness and happiness despite being surrounded by the luxuries of life. We also witness her downfall, which frustrated me to no end.
Ultimately, all the women in this film meet an unfortunate end. There is no redemption, and the triad boss gets the last laugh. In the final scene, the boss blatantly lies to a little girl named Ajiao about meeting her mom in the city, when in fact he has murdered her mother in cold blood on the island and is planning to groom her to replace Jinbao. In an ideal world, Shuisheng will escape the grasp of the triad life with Ajiao in tow.
The film depicted the violence and politics of the triad world, which I found fascinating, particularly through the lens of a young boy who is new to the world. We are learning at the same pace he is as the film unfolds.
Of course, if I were to rewrite this, it would have a Kill Bill-esque revenge element to Jinbao's character, where she ultimately murders the boss and takes control of the triad. Shanghai Triad, as admitted by Zhang Yimou, is ultimately a conventional "gangster movie" to circumvent his initial troubles faced with the Chinese authorities for his previous politically controversial film, To Live. It is an adaptation of Gang Law by Li Xiao, although they did make Jinbao a central character, told through the eyes of Shuisheng.
Although the storyline was infuriating, it is ultimately an indicator of the times it was filmed and set in. The cinematography, costume design, and Gong Li were the redeeming qualities of the film. I also thoroughly enjoyed how the story unfolds over the course of 7 days, with each day explicitly marked.
I gave Shanghai Triad 4 stars.
