I found this Chinese film in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, as with many titles featured in the book, I was hoping for something worthwhile and that would deserve its placement, it certainly sounded like something that could be good. Basically it is about the life and career of 1930s Chinese movie star Ruan Ling-yu (In the Mood for Love's Maggie Cheung, also as herself). She was China's first prima donna of the silver screen, emerging as a star of the silent screen by her twenties, and becoming known as "the Chinese Garbo". Ruan started as a background actress at the age of sixteen, with short appearances and small parts, eventually gaining leading roles, she starred in over a dozen films, many have been lost, but those that remain are still well-received. But Ruan had a troubled personal life, she was having an affair with a married man, and gained negative criticism from the press. Various public issues and intense private problems resulted in Ruan committing suicide, she poisoned herself with an overdose of barbiturates, leaving a note that apparently read "gossip is a fearful thing", there was also rumours of her lover being hostile to her, she was 24 years old. The film switches between documentary style interviews by those who knew Ruan Ling-yu, the cast and crew of this film, and recreations of her most famous films, including the critically acclaimed The Goddess. Also starring Chin Han as Tang Jishan, Lawrence Ng as Zhang Damin, Tony Leung Ka-fai as Cai Chusheng, Carina Lau as Li Lili, Cecilia Yip as Lin Chuchu and Waise Lee as Lai Man-Wai. Cheung gives a splendid performance as the troubled but talented actress, I personally know of the real actress from watching The Goddess, which was a brilliant performance, it is a tragic story of the rise to stardom and the pressures it brings, the most memorable scenes are the recreations of the famous films, overall it was a fairly good period biographical drama. Worth watching!

There are many pieces that should have been done better, but overall, the presentation is quite refreshing (interpersing footages and interviews with the main part of the movie)) and a story well-told.SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THE REST A few things worth clarifying -- Ruan was not married to Chang Ta-Min and she was not concerned about his accusation. It was her affair with Tang Chi-Shan (who refused to get a divorce) that bothered Ruan. Furthermore it was unclear to me if Ruan's union with Tang was voluntary or not. He's the boss of the studio afterall, and the scene with blowing the cigarette at him was taken from a movie in which a prostitute was forced to bed with a gangster.She clearly liked Tsai Chu-sheng, but this person only "talked." He flirted with her and used her for his movies but never stood up to protect his movie or Ruan (even when the immediate trigger to Ruan by the press was her role in his movie).Ruan rarely demonstrated her emotions but one can see them clearly during the filming of her movies.In the end, it seems that part of her depression came from thinking out loud with the characters she was acting and empathizing with their predicaments. Then, these were amplified by the many unfairness tossed at her in real life, leading to her suicide. Pretty devastating! PS. I actually liked a lot of the earlier slow scene between Ruan and her mother and adopted daughter. Much was reveal in those seemingly casual daily conversations (like the soup her mother prepared for Chang). Later on she was hiding almost everything to herself, and one can only get hints from subtle facial expressions etc.

This is a biopic about Yuan (Ruan) Ling-Wu, a movie star of the 30's in China. I've never seen any film she's been in, but I am very intrigued now. Maggie Cheung is excellent in this role. I feel Ms. Cheung is one of the best actresses in film, from any country. She is always interesting to watch. She plays Yuan sympathetically, passionately and solemnly. Looking at her in this role, looking at her pretty eyes, you can tell she understood this actress. At times, she looks flat out beautiful, especially when she smiles. I liked the style of this film, that the real Maggie Cheung comments on Yuan Ling-Wu during the film. Also commenting is the now departed contemporary of Ling-Wu, the very good actress Lilly Li (a few of her films have been recently released on DVD, and should be sought out). The film has a tragic air to it, as Ruan Ling-Wu committed suicide at the tender age of 25. Even if, like me, you have never heard of the actress, see this film. Ms. Cheung, with her smile, her sorrow, her anger all portrayed brilliantly through the film (she won Best Actress in Asia, richly deserved, just blows you away. Oh, and did I mention, she even dances in this film. A triumph, richly deserving of your time.

I saw Stanley Kwan's "Centre Stage" ("Yuen Ling-yuk") at a university series "New East Asian Cinema" on February 27, 2006. The film is a biography of Ruan Ling-yu (1910-1935), a silent film star of Chinese silent films.The film describes the life and meteoric rise to fame of young Shanghai actor Ruan Ling-yu (played well by Maggie Cheung), who from the age of 16 till her death at age 24, was featured, often in a lead role, in over a dozen films. She was involved in extramarital affairs with two men and eventually the double standards that women suffer by catch up with her (but not with the married suitors), and dogged media slander her reputation. With her honor at stake, she sees no recourse but to commit suicide, and does so with an overdose of barbiturates. According to the wikipedia entry about her (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruan_Ling_Yu), "her funeral procession was reportedly three miles long, with three women committing suicide during it."The film cleverly goes back and forth in time, and includes excellent interludes from some of Ruan Ling-yu's films. These snippets, as well as the local color we see in 1930s Shanghai, reveal a vivacious setting in Chinese history that I would enjoy learning more about, including seeing some of the period cinema.Not previously knowing anything about Ruan Ling-yu, I of course cannot vouch for the realism of the portrayal, but the acting of Maggie Cheung revealed a strong, magnetic, kind, talented, determined, and yet slightly aloof woman who enjoys many admirers. The other characters were not nearly as well developed, but that is understandable with the focus being on Ruan Ling-yu.I wonder if Kwan could have set the stage, so to speak, a bit more economically, and found the first half to two thirds rather slow. But, without giving anything away, the ending (of course we know that suicide is the true history) is calmly dramatic and captivating. The manner in which Cheung shows the actor saying goodbye to her close friends, who don't know that this is in fact her farewell, is touching - I wonder if this is how it happened. A film worth watching and which I would like to see again - 7.5 stars out of 10.--Dilip Feb. 27, 2006