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Curse of the Golden Flower
滿城盡帶黃金甲
2006 114 min China, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★7.2
Action, Drama, Fantasy
Director: Yimou Zhang
🎭 Based on
«Thunderstorm»
byCao Yu
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as his wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.
Budget:
$45M
US Gross:
$6.57M
Worldwide:
$78.57M
Starring
Chow Yun-Fat
Actor
Gong Li
Actor
Jay Chou
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2007
— Best Costume Design
Asian Film Academy 2007
— Best Actress
Asian Film Academy 2007
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 2007
— Best Costume Design
Asian Film Academy 2007
— Best Visual Effects
Saturn Awards 2007
— Best International Feature Film
Key opinion
Curse of the Golden Flower is widely recognized as a visually spectacular, tragic melodrama that functions as a dark family power struggle reminiscent of Shakespearean or Greek theater. While critics and audiences frequently praise the lead performances and opulent aesthetic, opinions diverge on whether this visual excess serves the narrative or ultimately distracts from it.
| Acting | Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat deliver commanding, mesmerizing performances that anchor the complex family dynamics. | |
| Theme | The film functions as a compelling psychological tragedy, effectively mirroring the structure of classic Greek and Shakespearean dramas. | |
| Production | The cinematography and set design utilize a striking, vibrant color palette that creates a uniquely immersive visual experience. | |
| Production | The film's extreme visual and sartorial opulence is divisive, with some viewing it as artistic brilliance and others as gaudy, distracting excess. | |
| Pacing | The narrative pace is characterized as a slow, deliberate drama, which appeals to those seeking emotional depth but frustrates viewers expecting non-stop action. | |
| Ending | The ending is polarized: some see it as a powerful, thematic conclusion to the imperial tragedy, while others find it meaningless or unsatisfying. |