Shanghai Triad
1995 · Movie · R · 108 min · ★ 6.8 · 84% critics
In 1930s Shanghai, a country boy is brought into the orbit of a powerful crime syndicate and assigned to serve a glamorous nightclub performer who lives under a ruthless boss’s control. As rival threats close in, the boy witnesses shifting loyalties, privilege, and fear up close, from the city’s glitter to uneasy rural refuge.
Also known as Shake, Shake to Grandma's Bridge
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Details
- Original title
- 摇啊摇，摇到外婆桥
- Years
- 1995
- Release date
- 1995-09-14
- Language
- Chinese
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Critic score
- 84/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (112 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a moody, character-focused crime drama that contrasts nightclub glamour with harsh power dynamics, closer to Ju Dou than a typical gangster romp; Not for you if you need fast action or clear-cut heroes.
Pros: lush visuals; strong performances; tense atmosphere | Cons: slow pacing; thin story; distant characters
Themes
- shanghai, china
- chinese mafia
- coming of age
- mistress
- criminal underworld
- drug lord
- triad
- modern china
- nightclub singer
- 1930s
- cabaret singer
- chinese triad
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review Award — Best Foreign Language Film
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1996 · nominated
Cast & crew
Gong Li
as Bijou / Xiao Jinbao
Li Baotian
as Boss Tang Laoda
Sun Chun
as Song Laoer
Li Xuejian
as Uncle Liushu
Liu Jiang
as Fat Yu
Fu Biao
as Laosan
Chen Shu
as Shiye
- WX
Wang Xiaoxiao
as Shuisheng
Jiang Baoying
as Cuihua
- NT
Ngai Tsang-Siu
Directed by Zhang Yimou