Gong Li Curse of the Golden Flower is a 2006 Chinese film that tells the story of a royal family consumed by power struggles and deceit during the Tang Dynasty. The film stars legendary Chinese actress Gong Li and is directed by Zhang Yimou, known for his visually stunning films. The main idea of the film is the curse that befalls the royal family, embodied by the golden chrysanthemum flower. This curse represents the toxicity of their relationships and the destructive nature of their actions. Throughout the film, we see how their pursuit of power and personal desires leads to tragedy and ultimately the downfall of the entire family. Gong Li's performance in Curse of the Golden Flower is captivating and powerful.
What, exactly, is Zhang Yimou trying to tell us? After years of making films about intimate oppressions that frequently got him in trouble with Chinese censors (Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern), in 2002 Zhang made Hero, a dazzling wire-fu epic that was also an appalling paean to authoritarianism and the "One China" policy of subjugating Tibet and Taiwan. The film was widely seen as a temporary capitulation, a way to get the government off his back once and for all. And indeed, his next epic, House of Flying Daggers, eschewed such politicking, even making the (implicit) point that the loves and betrayals of individuals are of greater importance than the clash of imperial armies.
Zhang lets the competing machinations unfold in high operatic style, with the characters alternating between venomous stares and wild, emotional outbursts. aesthetic informing its visuals, including enormous, elaborate sets and scenes which involve a massive number of extras, Curse of the Golden Flower is one of the great cinema spectacles, right up there with those old Hollywood films that played on an almost impossible scale, such as Ben-Hur, Cleopatra and Intolerance.
Gong Li's performance in Curse of the Golden Flower is captivating and powerful. She portrays Empress Phoenix, a woman caught between her love for her husband, the Emperor, and her own desire for power. Gong Li effortlessly conveys the inner turmoil and emotional complexity of her character, making her one of the standout performances in the film.
Curse of the Golden Flower
During China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as his wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.
Cast
Director Director
Producers Producers
Writers Writers
Original Writer Original Writer
Editor Editor
Cinematography Cinematography
Production Design Production Design
Visual Effects Visual Effects
Composer Composer
Sound Sound
Costume Design Costume Design
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Alternative Titles
La città proibita, La Cité interdite, Cesarzowa, 황후花, Den gyllene blommans förbannelse, Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia, Slaget om den forbudte by, Kampen om den forbudte by, Проклятието на златното цвете, La maledicció de la flor daurada, Kletba zlatého květu, Den forbudte by, Der Fluch der goldenen Blume, Η Κατάρα του Χρυσού Λουλουδιού, La maldición de la flor dorada, קללת פרח הזהב, Prokletstvo krizantema, Az aranyszirmok átka, 王妃の紋章, ოქროს ყვავილის წყევლა, 황후화, Auksinės gėlės prakeiksmas, Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia, A Maldição da Flor Dourada, Blestemul floarei aurii, Проклятие золотого цветка, ศึกโค่นบัลลังก์วังทอง, Altın Çiçeğin Laneti, Прокляття золотої квітки, Hoàng Kim Giáp, 满城尽带黄金甲
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Releases by Date
Sort byPremiere
25 Feb 2007
- UK Glasgow Film Festival
16 Aug 2007
- Iceland Green Light Film Festival
21 Sep 2007
- Brazil Festival of Rio
Theatrical limited
21 Dec 2006
07 Feb 2007
- Philippines
26 Apr 2007
- Russian Federation
05 Oct 2007
Theatrical
14 Dec 2006
21 Dec 2006
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Singapore
12 Jan 2007
25 Jan 2007
- South Korea 18
01 Feb 2007
- Australia M
- Thailand
15 Feb 2007
- Greece 15
08 Mar 2007
- Portugal M/16
14 Mar 2007
- France U
16 Mar 2007
- Poland
- Vietnam
23 Mar 2007
29 Mar 2007
- Netherlands
30 Mar 2007
- Colombia
11 Apr 2007
13 Apr 2007
26 Apr 2007
- Germany 12
27 Apr 2007
11 May 2007
- Bulgaria
25 May 2007
21 Jun 2007
- Argentina
28 Jun 2007
06 Jul 2007
23 Jul 2007
17 Aug 2007
- Lithuania N-13
31 Aug 2007
07 Sep 2007
- Finland
- Uruguay
12 Oct 2007
19 Oct 2007
- Sweden 11
12 Apr 2008
Physical
05 Mar 2008
- Sweden 11
Releases by Country
Sort byArgentina
21 Jun 2007
- Theatrical
Australia
01 Feb 2007
- Theatrical M
Belgium
11 Apr 2007
- Theatrical
Brazil
21 Sep 2007
- Premiere Festival of Rio
05 Oct 2007
- Theatrical limited
12 Oct 2007
- Theatrical
Bulgaria
11 May 2007
- Theatrical
China
14 Dec 2006
- Theatrical
Colombia
30 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
Denmark
31 Aug 2007
- Theatrical
Finland
07 Sep 2007
- Theatrical
France
14 Mar 2007
- Theatrical U
Germany
26 Apr 2007
- Theatrical 12
Greece
15 Feb 2007
- Theatrical 15
Hong Kong
21 Dec 2006
- Theatrical
Iceland
16 Aug 2007
- Premiere Green Light Film Festival
Indonesia
21 Dec 2006
- Theatrical
Ireland
13 Apr 2007
- Theatrical
Israel
28 Jun 2007
- Theatrical
Italy
25 May 2007
- Theatrical
Japan
12 Apr 2008
- Theatrical
Latvia
06 Jul 2007
- Theatrical
Lithuania
17 Aug 2007
- Theatrical N-13
Malaysia
21 Dec 2006
- Theatrical
Mexico
23 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
Netherlands
29 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
Norway
12 Oct 2007
- Theatrical
Panama
27 Apr 2007
- Theatrical
Philippines
07 Feb 2007
- Theatrical limited
Poland
16 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
Portugal
08 Mar 2007
- Theatrical M/16
Russian Federation
26 Apr 2007
- Theatrical limited
Singapore
21 Dec 2006
- Theatrical
South Korea
25 Jan 2007
- Theatrical 18
Spain
27 Apr 2007
- Theatrical
Sweden
19 Oct 2007
- Theatrical 11
05 Mar 2008
- Physical 11 DVD & Blu-ray release
Thailand
01 Feb 2007
- Theatrical
Turkey
23 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
UK
25 Feb 2007
- Premiere Glasgow Film Festival
23 Jul 2007
- Theatrical 15 Certification from BBFC
USA
21 Dec 2006
- Theatrical limited R
12 Jan 2007
- Theatrical
Uruguay
07 Sep 2007
- Theatrical
Vietnam
16 Mar 2007
- Theatrical
The film is visually stunning, with vibrant colors, intricate costumes, and breathtaking set designs. Zhang Yimou's use of color symbolism adds another layer of depth to the story, with the golden chrysanthemum flower representing the hidden darkness and corruption within the royal family. Curse of the Golden Flower is not only a visually striking film but also a poignant exploration of power, greed, and the consequences of one's actions. It serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked ambition and the destructive impact it can have on individuals and society as a whole. In conclusion, Gong Li Curse of the Golden Flower 2006 is a compelling and visually stunning film that explores the destructive nature of power and the consequences of one's actions. Gong Li's powerful performance and Zhang Yimou's artistic direction make this film a must-watch for fans of Chinese cinema..
Reviews for "The Performances of Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat in Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)"
1. Michael - 2/5 Stars:
I found "Curse of the Golden Flower" to be overly dramatic and confusing. The storyline lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. The excessive use of CGI effects also took away from the authenticity of the film. Overall, I was disappointed with the film and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1/5 Stars:
I found "Curse of the Golden Flower" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and felt forced, and the characters were uninteresting and lacked development. The pacing of the film was slow, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the excessive use of violence and gore was unnecessary and took away from the overall viewing experience. I would not recommend watching this film.
3. Jason - 2/5 Stars:
"Curse of the Golden Flower" had a promising premise, but it fell short in execution. The plot was predictable, and the characters were cliché. The film relied heavily on extravagant sets and costumes, but it lacked substance. The pacing was also uneven, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and would not watch it again.
4. Emily - 2/5 Stars:
"Curse of the Golden Flower" had stunning visuals, but the story felt shallow and disconnected. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The film seemed more focused on showcasing opulent costumes and elaborate sets rather than delivering a compelling narrative. Despite its visually appealing elements, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this film.