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Flowers of Shanghai

1998·Movie
1h 53min·NR
78
GreatGoodWatch score

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Flowers of Shanghai fingerprint

Immersive world, striking style, calm.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension2
  • Spectacle2
  • Adrenaline0

Heart

Melancholic and moving

  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7
  • Nostalgia6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy0
  • Physical Comedy0

World

History and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and dialogue

  • Direction9
  • Acting8
  • Dialogue Quality8

Style

Standout cinematography and visual style

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Cinematography9
  • Visual Stylization8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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You want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

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”.
Immersive HistoricalObservational Slow-BurnMelancholic AtmosphereCourtesan World DramaSocial RealismVisually StunningDialogue-DrivenCharacter StudyPeriod Piece

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Flowers of Shanghai

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Flowers of Shanghai legally?

You can rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Flowers of Shanghai worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 73). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Flowers of Shanghai rated?

NRDrug useSexual content

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: drug use and sexual content.

How long is Flowers of Shanghai?

1 h 53 min

Flowers of Shanghai runs 1 h 53 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Flowers of Shanghai?

Critics83
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate Flowers of Shanghai higher (83) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Flowers of Shanghai in?

Chinesecn

It was made in Chinese, with some cn. Produced in Taiwan.

In how many countries can I watch Flowers of Shanghai?

12AUCACHFRGBGGIEJPKRNZTWUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Flowers of Shanghai in 12 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.