A scene from the 2006 film ‘Curse of the Golden Flower.’
 
At the time that the Chinese film, Curse of the Golden Flower was made in 2006, its $45 million price tag made it the most expensive Chinese film in history.

The screenplay for Curse of the Golden Flower was adapted from an early 1930s play written by one of China’s most revered playwrights, Cao Yu called Thunderstorm. The film’s plotlines are closely aligned with its historic predecessor—murder, unrequited love, incest and suicide. While it wasn’t the blockbuster that Sony was hoping for (the film only grossed about $78 million worldwide), it received fairly unanimous critical acclaim upon its release.

With its opulent costumes and sets dripping with gold and at times Giallo-esque use of color, Curse of the Golden Flower is an awe-inspiring treat for the eyes. Which is why I’ve put together a collection of stills from the film that support my statement. The film was released on Blu Ray in 2007 where you can see all the details of the decadent costuming (which won designer Yee Chung-Man the award for Best Costume and Make Up Design at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards) and elaborate set designs. An array of tantalizing images from the film (which I recommend you see if you haven’t already) follow.
 

Actress Gong Li as Empress Phoenix in ‘Curse of the Golden Flower.’
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trailer for “Curse of the Golden Flower.”

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Beautiful and haunting photographs of Shanxi, China’s Lunar New Year celebrations