Inspired by a true story and based on David Henry Hwang’s award-winning stage play, this film version by David Cronenberg (Naked lunch, Dead ringers) does not quite live up to expectations even though Hwang has written the screenplay. Set in Beijing, in 1964, the story revolves around married French diplomat Rene Gallimard and his obsessive love affair with Beijing Opera star Song Liling who first entranced Gallimard with her performance as Madama Butterfly. As Gallimard becomes more deeply involved with the secretive and allusive Song Liling, life begins to take an unexpected turn - one that involves intrigue, espionage, and betrayal. Starring Jeremy Irons, John Lone, Barbara Sukowa, Annabel Leventon, Shizuko Hoshi, Ian Richardson.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
318304
Language
English
Audience classification
M (15+)
Subject categories
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Espionage
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Spies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Betrayal - Drama
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Gender identity
Feature films → Feature films - United States
Literature → Drama - Adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)