Hsiao-hsien Hou's Flowers of Shanghai (1998) is set in the 1880's Shanghai where four brothels have to deal with a wide range of problems from fights between flower girls (a gentler term for prostitutes) to the struggle to gain freedom. Hou explores the subject thoroughly and he manages to create a big cast of complex and fascinating characters.
The film is a return to Hou's more static form in a sense: the camera remains at the same spot in each scene, but it still turns around to follow characters and events when it is needed. The camera is also relatively (= in comparison to his other films) close to the actors, creating more intimacy although the camera still remains as an observer. The editing pattern is mostly one "one scene, one take" and scenes are often changed with a fade to black - which works surprisingly well because it fits to the calm pacing completely. The lighting in this film phenomenal, even more notable than in many other Hou films.
Flowers of Shanghai is a great addition to Hou's filmography even though it does not reach to the level of his masterpieces.
Score: 9 out of 10
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