Shanghai Triad

1995 Drama

Country boy Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao) is brought to 1930s Shanghai by his uncle who wants the boy to become a member of the powerful gang ruled by manipulative Tang (Li Baotian). In fact, Shuisheng will serve Tang's capricious mistress Bijou (Gong Li), a nightclub singer whom the boss proclaimed "the Queen of Shanghai." When the boy's uncle and the gang's several other members die during a rival gang's unsuccessful attempt on Tang's life, the latter retreats to a remote small island, taking both Bijou and Shuisheng with him and thinking of revenge. The film's English-language title is a little bit deceiving (the original Chinese title translates to "Row, Row, Row to Grandmother's Bridge," a line in Tang's favorite song performed by Bijou), as this drama centers more on the boy's coming of age and Bijou's disillusionment than on Shanghai gang wars. more..

Director: Zhang Yimou

Starring: Gong Li, Li Baotian, Li Xuejian, Shun Chun Shuisheng, Wang Xiaoxiao Cuihua

Reviews

No reviews

Awards

  • Best Cinematography

    Academy Awards (1996)

     
  • Yue Lü

    Camerimage (1995)

     
  • Yimou Zhang

    Cannes Film Festival (1995)

  • Best Foreign Language Film

    Golden Globes (1996)

     
  • Best Cinematography

    Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (1995)