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Plot

Country boy Shuisheng (Wang Xiaoxiao) is brought to 1930s Shanghai by his uncle who wants the boy to become a member of the powerful gang ruled by manipulative Tang (Li Baotian). In fact, Shuisheng will serve Tang's capricious mistress Bijou (Gong Li), a nightclub singer whom the boss proclaimed "the Queen of Shanghai." When the boy's uncle and the gang's several other members die during a rival gang's unsuccessful attempt on Tang's life, the latter retreats to a remote small island, taking both Bijou and Shuisheng with him and thinking of revenge. The film's English-language title is a little bit deceiving (the original Chinese title translates to "Row, Row, Row to Grandmother's Bridge," a line in Tang's favorite song performed by Bijou), as this drama centers more on the boy's coming of age and Bijou's disillusionment than on Shanghai gang wars.
MPAA Rating:
R for some language and images of violence.
Genre(s):
Drama,Foreign
Run Time:
108min.
Theatrical Release Date:
12/22/1995
DVD Release Date:
12/12/2000
Distributor(s):
Sony Pictures Classics
Director(s):
Zhang Yimou
Starring:
Gong Li , Li Baotian , Li Xuejian , Sun Chun , Wang Xiaoxiao
Themes:
Criminal's Revenge,Unlikely Friendships,Triad
Tone:
Atmospheric,Confrontational,Disturbing,Tense
Keywords:
Chinese [nationality],assassination,boy,coming-of-age,island,mistress,nightclub,revenge,singer,uncle
Language:
Mandarin