Movie review: Snow Flower and The Secret Fan

A scene from Snow Flower and The Secret Fan. Photo / Supplied

From Wayne Wang, the director of The Joy Luck Club, comes another melodrama based on female friendships that span generations.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is partially based on the book by Lisa See, which was set in 19th century China and explored the Chinese tradition of "laotong", the arranged lifelong friendship between two young girls.

Snow Flower and Lily are 7 years old and having their feet bound when they are introduced by a matchmaker and, with the help of a secret language, they communicate and support each other through arranged marriages, separation from families and motherhood.

Produced by Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan has been given a contemporary edge with the addition of a modern day parallel story based around a descendant of Snow Flower.

Sophia (Gianna Jun) and Nina (Bingbing Li) are two estranged friends living in current day Shanghai who reconnect as they discover the story of Sophia's ancestor, Snow Flower.

Wang flits between these stories, with the same actresses playing the present-day friends and their 19th century equivalents. There is a lot to cover, in particular as we also flash back to when Simone and Nina met as teenagers, and as both stories mirror each other it is, at times, like watching the same story twice.

The addition of Nina and Simone's story isn't a bad idea; it allows Wang to show us a vibrant Shanghai, the very different role of women in modern China, and to make the point that old-fashioned traditions and values can be just as relevant today. It also, however, dominates the balance of the stories and bogs down the film's momentum. Having Nina and Simone speak to each other in stilted English seems a strange choice as it means their relationship lacks the warmth of the original story.

As we would expect from Wang, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is visually slick, with an exquisite 19th century China and an enticing Shanghai. But with all the darting back and forward between stories, different time periods and contrasting shooting styles, it's a challenge to make a connection with any of his characters.

Stars: 2.5/5
Cast: Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu
Director: Wayne Wang
Running time: 105 mins
Rating: M (Adult themes)
Verdict: Beautifully shot but long-winded story of female bonding

-TimeOut