Flowers of Shanghai 1998

“Hai Shang Hua Lei Chuang,” a novel penned by Han Zi Yun, first appeared as a series in 1892. Originally written in Wu dialect, which can be challenging for non-speakers, the tale fell into obscurity until translated into Mandarin by Eileen Chang in 1983, subsequently earning its English title, The Flowers of Shanghai.

The film adaptation, Hai Shang Hua, is a retelling based on Chang’s version, centering on the intricate lives within brothels, colloquially referred to as “colleges,” and the courtesans who inhabit them. At the heart of this narrative is Pearl, the college’s senior teacher, a courtesan endowed with a significant degree of independence due to her mother being the matriarch. Pearl maintains a steady yet uneventful relationship with her patron, Master Hong, weaving their connection into the broader tapestry of intertwined narratives.

In a bid to curry favor with the influential Master Wang, the college hosts a dinner party showcasing their finest courtesans, leading to Wang’s infatuation with the fiery Crimson. Despite warnings regarding her dubious affair with a Chinese opera actor, Wang becomes Crimson’s exclusive patron. However, after several encounters, he discovers the reasons behind his friends’ caution, resulting in escalating tensions between the two. Ultimately, Wang’s affections for Crimson linger, but he chooses to part ways and finds solace in the more demure Jasmin, while the College of Shen declines due to Crimson’s poor reputation and dwindling patronage.

Meanwhile, Jade, a promising new “apprentice teacher” at Pearl’s college, becomes embroiled in a passionate love affair with Shuren. When Jade learns of Shuren’s impending arranged marriage, she coerces him into taking opium in a desperate pact to die together. Fortunately, Master Hong and Pearl intervene, and Shuren ultimately pays a hefty sum to liberate Jade from her contract, allowing her to marry properly.

Emerald, renowned as the most beautiful teacher at the College of Huang, uses her charm and cunning to avoid exclusive patrons, hoping to find someone willing to buy out her contract. Her captivating presence catches the eye of Master Luo, who is so infatuated that he tolerates waiting for her while she entertains other clients. Thus begins the arduous negotiation with Auntie Huang, who embodies the vices of a washed-up courtesan—gambling, debts, and a revolving door of lovers. As Auntie Huang is determined to keep Emerald, the negotiations extend throughout the film, eventually culminating in a favorable agreement secured with the assistance of Master Hong, allowing Emerald to escape her “college life” once and for all.