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”.

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

Hou Hsiao-hsien

Director

Chu Tien-Wen

Writer

Yang Teng-Kuei

Producer

Shôzô Ichiyama

Producer

Mark Lee Ping-Bing

Director of Photography

Liao Ching-sung

Editor

Tu Duu-chih

Original Music Composer

Yoshihiro Hanno

Original Music Composer

Bangqing Han

Novel

Eileen Chang

Novel

Production Companies

Shochiku

3-H Films