Show Inside the Chinese Mafia with Shanghai Triad I i By Scott Morgan Staff Writer Ever since the the American gangster film has had an impact on world cinema Most gangster gangster gangster gang gang- ster films are morality tales usually focusing on a tragic flaw in one of the major characters Also gangster f films ms are usually filled to the brim with onscreen onscreen onscreen on on- screen violence a device that has been criticized by critics and moralists moralists moralists moral moral- ever since the inception of the gangster film genre With Shanghai Triad a Chinese perspective on the gangster film genre is explored which differs from nom the standard American gangster film In this visually stunning film the major emphasis is not on the warring gangs but on the lonely characters trapped inside the mafia And as w with th thany any gangster picture there is the the violence though much of it is left to the audiences audience's imagination tion or shown as aftermath Set in Shanghai during the Os the audience is introduced to the opium dealing underworld through the eyes of ofa a year old year 14 boy name named played by newcomer Wang Xiao Xiao Fresh f from om the countryside is assigned a ajob ajob ajob job attending to the gang leaders leader's mistress Xiao masterfully portrayed by Gong Li At first fast their relationship is adversarial but butth they y soon learn to respect and trust each other as the situations surrounding them become more dangerous Along with his previous films Ju Dou Raise the Red Lantern To Live Shanghai Triad director Zhang justifies his significant place with the Chinese N New w Age Film Movement And primary star Gong Li once again displays her versatility through her accomplished acting and singing abilities in Shanghai Triad Lu Yues Yue's cinematography which was nominated for a 1995 Academy Award is a visual feast for audiences audiences' audiences audiences' audiences audiences' audi audi- eyes gloriously depicting Shanghai and an offshore island Much of the film is skillfully shot with a point of view camera technique frequently abused in horror horror horror hor hor- films from wide- wide eyed perspective The cinematography phy also serves as a beautiful foil to the wickedness and corruption of the Chinese mafia As with every film there is biting social commentary to be found in Shanghai Triad Just as To Live depicted the evils of communism communism nis shows an evenhanded- evenhanded evenhandedness ness with Shanghai Triad by exploring exploring exploring ing the disturbing aspects of capitalism capitalism capitalism capital capital- ism and the shallow materialistic asp aspirations of mankind Sh Shanghai ghai Triad is a powerful l film of great ins insight and depth It serves as wonderful change of pace to the graphic violence in Americas America's ne neo neo- noir gangster pictures and the hollow h lIow happy endings of mainstream Hollywood Shanghai Triad is rated R and is presented in Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles Call the Tower Theatre at for show times m r 00 0 s f i P x wa z Shy N o ro roo y x r j Sd ff 4 s ss s Triad now playing at the in Shanghai island Xiao Gong Li U center is taken to a remote I Tower Theatre I 1 Sri u n W n DAILY A I L Y 1 |