Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2011 historical drama film directed by Wayne Wang, based on the novel of the same name written by Lisa See.[3] The film stars Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Vivian Wu, Hugh Jackman, and Archie Kao.
| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Wayne Wang |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Richard Wong |
| Edited by | Deirdre Slevin |
| Music by | Rachel Portman |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 104 minutes [1] |
| Countries | |
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| Budget | $6 million |
| Box office | $11.3 million [2] |
Plot
editIn nineteenth-century China, two girls named Snow Flower (Gianna Jun) and Lily (Li Bing Bing) are forever bonded together as sworn sisters. They are paired as laotong by a matchmaker who is also responsible for arranging their marriages. They are isolated by their families and communicate by writing in a secret sisterly language, Nü shu (a historical practice in China in that period), on a unique Chinese fan that Snow Flower possesses.
Meanwhile, in the present day Shanghai, their descendants Sophia Liao and Nina Wei struggle with the intimacy of their own pure and intense childhood friendship. As teenagers, Sophia and Nina were introduced to the idea of laotong, and they signed a traditional laotong contract on the cover of Canto-pop Faye Wong's album Fu Zao (Restless in English). Faye Wong was their favorite singer and their liberated dancing to the "degenerate" sounds of the cheerful refrain "la cha bor" was one of the reasons Sophia's stepmother attempted to separate them. Eventually they are separated but come together again when Sophia falls into a coma after being struck by a taxi while cycling. Reunited at long last, they must come to understand the story of the strong and close ancestral connection hidden from them in the folds of the antique white silk fan or lose one another forever in the process.
Cast
edit- Gianna Jun as Sophia/Snow Flower
- Li Bingbing[4] as Nina/Lily
- Vivian Wu as Aunt
- Hugh Jackman as Arthur
- Archie Kao as Sebastian
- Wu Jiang as Butcher
- Angela Evans as Ballroom guest
- Jennifer Lim (voice) as Snow Flower
- Christina Jun (voice) as Sophie
Production
editThe film was produced by IDG China Media. The filming locations were Hengdian World Studios, Heng Dian, China, and Shanghai, China with many scenes at The Peninsula Hotel on the Bund.
Distribution
editRupert Murdoch personally arranged for the film to be released by Fox Searchlight Pictures,[5] which opened the film in North America on July 15, 2011.[6]
Reception
editThe film received generally negative reviews from critics. As of June 2020[update], the film holds a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 89 reviews, with an average score of 4.52/10.[7] On Metacritic, it has a score of 42 out of a possible 100, based on 31 reviews.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (12A)". Wayne Wang. British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
- ^ Snow Flower and the Secret Fan at Box Office Mojo
- ^ Chauncey Mabe, Correspondent (2011-06-19). "Lisa See: New York Times best-selling author - tribunedigital-sunsentinel". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
{{cite web}}:|author1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan cast". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office: Harry Potter 8 Beats The Dark Knight's Opening Weekend Record UPDATED". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ "Moving Pictures Network 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' (July 15)". Moving Pictures. May 13, 2011. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ^ "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
