Shanghai Triad

"In 1930, Shanghai violence was not the problem. It was the solution."

1995 1h 48m ZH

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 120

DramaCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Shanghai, China, 1930. When young Shuisheng arrives from the countryside, his uncle Liushu puts him at the service of Bijou, the mistress of Laoda, supreme boss of the Tang Triad, constantly threatened by his enemies, both those he knows and those lurking in the shadows.

“In 1930, Shanghai violence was not the problem. It was the solution.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Gong Li
Bijou / Xiao Jinbao
Li Baotian
Boss Tang Laoda
Sun Chun
Song Laoer
Li Xuejian
Uncle Liushu
Liu Jiang
Fat Yu
Fu Biao
Laosan
Chen Shu
Shiye
Wang Xiaoxiao
Shuisheng

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Zhang Yimou
Writers: Bi Feiyu
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

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31 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: China, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Zhang Yimou, shot by Lü Yue. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Guangtian Zhang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Du Yuan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gong Li and Li Baotian and Sun Chun carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In 1930, Shanghai violence was not the problem. It was the solution.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Zhang Yimou directs. Lü Yue behind the camera. Guangtian Zhang scores. Du Yuan cuts. Produced in China, France. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $2.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
231 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: China, France.
4Directed by Zhang Yimou, shot by Lü Yue. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Guangtian Zhang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Du Yuan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Gong Li and Li Baotian and Sun Chun carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In 1930, Shanghai violence was not the problem. It was the solution.".
9IMDB entry: tt0115012 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "shanghai, china", "chinese mafia", "coming of age", "mistress".
11Released under 14 different titles around the world.