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3Wong Kar-wai’s Blossoms Shanghai Receives Mixed Response
Critics and viewers have praised the show’s visuals and deep engagement with Shanghai culture, but also found it overlong and over-stylized
Jan 11, 2024, Radii
Wong Kar-wai’s first-ever TV series, Blossoms Shanghai, premiered on December 27 last year, capturing public attention yet receiving a mixed critical response. Remarkably, the show garnered nearly 2% of total television viewership in China during the first ten minutes after its premiere, and also dominated seven spots on Weibo’s “Trending” bar. This adaptation of Jin Yucheng’s acclaimed novel marks Wong Kar-wai’s return to screens after a decade-long hiatus following his 2013 film, The Grandmaster. Starring Hu Ge, one of China's most popular actors, the series has naturally drawn immense attention.
Blossoms Shanghai showcases the journey of businessman A Bao (portrayed by Hu Ge) as he rises from obscurity to questionable success in the 1990s. The story begins one Chinese New Year’s Eve with A Bao at the pinnacle of his life, distributing red envelopes at lavish parties, only to be abruptly struck in a planned hit-and-run. The narrative then alternates between his early life in the 1960s and the transformative 1990s, a period marked by China’s opening up and the ensuing explosion of economic opportunity and investment in Shanghai. In doing so it attempts to depict a pivotal era in Chinese history, capturing the intricate social maneuvers and business tactics that played out on the vibrant streets of a city entering its boom years.
However, the series’ cinematography, lighting, writing, and mise-en-scène have divided audiences and critics at home and abroad, receiving both praise and criticism.
A key feature of Blossoms Shanghai is its unique dual-language release, offering versions in both Mandarin and Shanghainese. This choice has resonated strongly with local audiences, particularly because most of the cast have Shanghainese backgrounds and speak the dialect fluently. The authenticity of the Shanghainese version has been particularly appreciated by Shanghai locals, as evidenced by enthusiastic Weibo comments. One commenter notably praised the dialect’s use, saying “it really has that local flavor.”
