Woah, what a film! The cinematography is just AMAZING; it's set a totally new standard for me as my first Hou Hsiao-Hsien film. I highly recommend looking for a restored version to give this movie the justice it deserves. The framework is ingenius; the colors, costumes and sets are captured in a way that just engulfs you & leaves you feeling like you were there... it's very interesting! Now, under this undeniable beauty you have the stories and lives of our flower girls. Each girl has her own problems and routes to reach their freedoms & goals. This film does a good job of giving hints and small tastes of what life was really like for courtesans of this time. And ofcourse the actors really sealed the deal; the portrayals were pretty spot-on and genuine. Overall, Flowers of Shanghai is a visual masterpiece & I am grateful such a gem exists. xx