Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

2011 1h 44m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 109

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A story set in 19th century China and centered on the lifelong friendship between two girls who develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid cultural norms imposed on women.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Li Bingbing
Lily / Nina
Gianna Jun
Snow Flower / Sophia
Hugh Jackman
Arthur
Vivian Wu
Sophia's Aunt
Jiang Wu
Butcher
Russell Wong
China Everbright Bank CEO
Coco Chiang Yi
Anna
Fang Zhoubo
Mr. Liao

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wayne Wang
Writers: Angela Workman, Ronald Bass, Michael Ray
Languages: Mandarin, English
Countries: China, United States of America

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 $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 9.9× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 15 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: China, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Directed by Wayne Wang, shot by Richard Wong. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wayne Wang directs. Richard Wong behind the camera. Rachel Portman scores. Deirdre Slevin cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in China, United States of America. Dialogue in Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Made its money back 9.9× over at the box office.
3Released 15 years ago.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.
5International production across 2 countries: China, United States of America.
6Directed by Wayne Wang, shot by Richard Wong. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Rachel Portman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Deirdre Slevin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Li Bingbing and Gianna Jun and Hugh Jackman carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt1541995 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Richard Wong
Original score: Rachel Portman
Editing: Deirdre Slevin
Production design: Man Lim-Chung
Sound: Lewis Goldstein
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $134,005
Box office: $1,332,231
Return: 994% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011)

Also by

Wayne Wang

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-12
★ 8/10
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan explores two intertwined stories of deep female friendship, connected through the ancient Chinese tradition of Laotong and the secret language Nu Shu. As Nina reflects on her bond with Sophia—now in a coma—she uncovers a historical tale mirroring their own, revealing how love, sacrifice, and silence shape lifelong connections. Though the narrative flows between timelines, the film ultimately highlights how true friendship transcends generations and cultures. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

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