Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

PG-13

Released Jul 15, 2011

1h 43m

Drama

History

List

22%

90 Reviews

Tomatometer

48%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Parallel stories tell of two 19th-century Chinese women -- bound together for eternity -- and their descendants who struggle to maintain their friendship amid 21st-century demands.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

The whole looks lush, but it doesn't deliver as it should.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 4, 2011

Full Review

Andrew Pulver

Guardian

Here is a very self-conscious attempt to bridge the US-China divide through the medium of glossy, handsomely mounted cinema.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 3, 2011

Full Review

Paul Weedon

Little White Lies

Visual flourishes aren't enough to detract from a confused plot and mawkishly sentimental overtones.

Rated: 1/5

Nov 3, 2011

Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a multigenerational, pan-language film, about the potential depth of a relationship between two women.

Mar 24, 2021

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

What hobbles the film is the screenplay's overly strenuous efforts to bind its parallel stories together.

Dec 6, 2020

Full Review

Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

Emotionally overwrought and fleetingly campy.

Jan 17, 2020

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Daniel G

Languid movie that highlights Chinese culture and traditional sisterly friendship in different periods of time in a moving manner. Many characters only superficially depicted, but sufficiently described. Surprised that did so badly among critics and even the audience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Snow Flower parallels two friendships, but not very well. The older story of two girls that both had bound feet and by lautong is rich - but the film has trouble translating it into the modern day story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It made me think my best friend. We've been friends for many years and no matter the distance or time apart, each time we connect it's like no time has passed. I really enjoyed this movie. Smiles, laughter, wtf and tears!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

matthew d

A sentimental melodrama on sisterhood. Wayne Wang's arthouse drama Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011) is a lovely melodrama about sisterhood empowering two women to survive great pain. Wang makes an interesting choice to depart from Lisa See's novel structure by including a modern day setting in Shanghai that I really loved. Wang's direction is fascinating as he seamlessly flashes from a framed narrative in contemporary times to a period setting in ancient China for a parallel story told about like sisters. I don't know if everyone will love these choices, but I found them far more engaging than either story individually. Deirdre Slevin's editing is pretty impeccable for conveying the time jumps. I think Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a nice little forgotten drama many women will love. I found it quite moving myself. I really enjoyed how natural the dialogue felt between all the women. There's a lot of homoerotic subtext here too as these ladies could easily have just been lesbian characters. I'd say no matter how you view Snow Flower, Wang directed his heart out with Richard Wong's stunning cinematography. All the cool greys and blues look striking, especially the outside shots of the city are particularly beautiful. The idea about sisterhood and love enduring despite hardship is very sweet and is played seriously enough that you feel their pain realistically. Rachel Portman's score is gentle, serene, and touching as she invokes deep sorrow and sweeping majesty with her ethereal music. Man Lim-Chung and Molly Page's production is sleek and gorgeous to draw you into this Chinese world of culture and heartache. You feel the pain of the feet wrapping all the more thanks to Joseph DiValerio's effects. Li Bingbing is phenomenal as Nina and Lily in her sympathetic and subtle dual roles. She is a lovely Chinese actress of quiet grace and expressive facial acting. She really convinces you her character is suffering from loneliness and heartbreak of sorts. Likewise, Gianna Jun is a stunning Korean actress, who kills it as the playful and devastated Sophia and Snow Flower. Her dual roles are just as impressive as Bingbing's nuanced performance as a skillful actress. Both actresses captivate you with their hypnotizing charisma and natural heartfelt presence. They are the reason to watch Snow Flower for sure. Hugh Jackman is completely wasted as Arthur, but his acting isn't terrible. He's just over-acting compared especially to the amazing lead actresses performances. Vivian Wu is kind as Sophia's aunt. I liked her strange verbal choices that make her character feel more warm, friendly, and playful. Jiang Wu is good as the brutal butcher, but simplistic overall. Russell Wong has a neat cameo as a smug CEO, then promptly disappears for the rest of the film. Coco Chiang Yi is lovely and interesting as Anna. Lastly Hu Qing-Yun and Lu Zhong are excellent as the mean older ladies Mrs. Liao and Lady Lu. In short, Snow Flower's cast carries and elevates the film into a real drama compared to the more melodramatic story. I really liked this movie and would happily watch it again.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

lariste l

Worthless - 21st century royal/overlord Rupert Murdoch paid Fox Searchlight to release this historical Chinese picture to make back it's earnings, presumably, because the producer is his wife, or one of his series of wives. Tastefully done though, like visiting a nicely decorated living room in the best part of town, but production values aren't what rewards audiences; dramatic power, emotion and cultural impact are, or at least entertainment value.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Serge L

The film parallels two friends in the now with the similar pair a century ago linked through a friendship of the bound feet. The bound feet was some sort of sexual fetishism of men during a period in China. It was well regarded for marriage, like girls genital mutilation in Africa. The stories are somewhat superficial otherwise though with little rationale sometimes. Good for the exotism and historical education nevertheless.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/08/18

Full Review

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Wayne Wang

Director

Jun Ji-hyun

Snow Flower

Li Bingbing

Nina

Vivian Wu

Aunt

Wu Jiang

Butcher

Russell Wong

Bank CEO

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Synopsis

Parallel stories tell of two 19th-century Chinese women -- bound together for eternity -- and their descendants who struggle to maintain their friendship amid 21st-century demands.

Director: Wayne Wang
Producer: Hugo Shong, Ronald Bass
Screenwriter: Angela Workman, Ronald Bass, Michael Ray
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Big Feet
Rating: PG-13 (Drug Use|Disturbing Images|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.3M
Runtime: 1h 43m

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