★ 7 / 10
Though I didn't love the slightly confused style
CinemaSerf
Though I didn't love the slightly confused style of this biopic, it's certainly a gloriously photographed story of the life of Ruan Lingyu (Maggie Cheung) as…
Though I didn't love the slightly confused style of this biopic, it's certainly a gloriously photographed story of the life of Ruan Lingyu (Maggie Cheung) as she embarked on the production of her final film "New Woman". She was an acclaimed silent film star in 1930s China who lived her life to the full, shall we say, and ultimately fell foul of a political class that was being more than subtly influenced by the aspiring Kuomintang movement. It didn't help that she was involved in a bit of a love triangle with the successful but married tea exporter Tang Chi-Shan (Chin Han) and coupled with her often quite seamy roles was generally considered something of a scarlet woman. Interspersed with her increasingly tragic story are more contemporaneous scenes from those in the cast discussing their plans for the film, it's characters and it's politics who do enlighten to an extent, but also serve to clobber the pace and sensitivity of the original story and that I felt didn't really work. This is a story that spotlights many of the hypocrisies of an ancient patriarchy that very much espoused philosophies of do as I say, not as I do - and those are really quite poignantly exposed by the delicately potent Cheung as Ruan Lingyu becomes more embroiled in artificially and vengefully contrived scandals that could only have one result for her. The production design also serves to contrast well a society that is emerging from centuries of Imperial government into something more "democratic" in nature - the adopting of suits and ties for the men but the women still confined to more traditional dress, as if to remind us of their more ornamental value even if the controversial film they are trying to make celebrates the equality between the sexes. There are a few excerpts from her actual films included which is impressive as many of them were destroyed by the authorities, and as a critique of the prevailing double standards of the day this is a classy and stylish film to watch.
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★ 6 / 10
A mixed bag
Classic-Movie-Club
This story of a young beautiful acclaimed actress from the 30s could have been so much more. Unfortunately it is a bit of an overlong mess which mixes a…
This story of a young beautiful acclaimed actress from the 30s could have been so much more. Unfortunately it is a bit of an overlong mess which mixes a somewhat boring documentary approach with 90s interviews and vintage reels, with a rather gripping and stylish account of love, society bias and deceit.
Had to fight not to fall asleep during the dull moments
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★ 9 / 10
Maggie Cheung is excellent
crossbow0106
This is a biopic about Yuan (Ruan) Ling-Wu, a movie star of the 30's in China. I've never seen any film she's been in, but I am very intrigued now. Maggie…
This is a biopic about Yuan (Ruan) Ling-Wu, a movie star of the 30's in China. I've never seen any film she's been in, but I am very intrigued now. Maggie Cheung is excellent in this role. I feel Ms. Cheung is one of the best actresses in film, from any country. She is always interesting to watch. She plays Yuan sympathetically, passionately and solemnly. Looking at her in this role, looking at her pretty eyes, you can tell she understood this actress. At times, she looks flat out beautiful, especially when she smiles. I liked the style of this film, that the real Maggie Cheung comments on Yuan Ling-Wu during the film. Also commenting is the now departed contemporary of Ling-Wu, the very good actress Lilly Li (a few of her films have been recently released on DVD, and should be sought out). The film has a tragic air to it, as Ruan Ling-Wu committed suicide at the tender age of 25. Even if, like me, you have never heard of the actress, see this film. Ms. Cheung, with her smile, her sorrow, her anger all portrayed brilliantly through the film (she won Best Actress in Asia, richly deserved, just blows you away. Oh, and did I mention, she even dances in this film. A triumph, richly deserving of your time.
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80%
AUDIENCE
7.4/10
3.3K
