Hsi-Men Ching woos a beautiful woman, Pan Chin-lien, and they murder Pan’s husband together. However, the adulterer and adulteress don’t get to share a wonderful life after their crime.
With “The Golden Lotus,” the Shaw Brothers Studio (known for their high-flying Kung Fu outings) changed pace with this melodramatic historical story. Director Li Han-Hsiang captures relationships forming (and decaying), humans’ ambitions for power, and women navigating a patriarchal society. One female character must be as ruthless and diabolical as the men she wishes to rule over.
The story focuses on Ximen Qing (Peter Yang Kwan/Chun Yang), a man determined to become a ruler while seeking to fulfill his many desires. He ensnares Pan Chin-lien (Chin Hu) from an unhappy marriage to Wu Dalang. Mirroring the tragic tale of “Macbeth,” Pan and Ximen embark on a murderous plan to gain power that ultimately turns inward and eats away at their souls. However, the serious plot gets some much-needed levity in a scene featuring Jackie Chan in his film debut.
There is much to admire about “The Golden Lotus” for Li’s direction, erotic style, and impressive production. Yet, a few characters’ relationships are underwritten, and they feel rushed with their developments. And the storytelling flow would have been better off by cutting several or more minutes of the running time. Also, using voiceover to patch up some minor plot elements seems like an afterthought and takes away from being immersed. Nonetheless, this is worthwhile for fans of ancient Chinese stories or those seeking a different kind of Shaw Brothers production.
Now available on Blu-ray™ from 88 Films
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