Wong Kar Wai’s First TV Series ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ to Stream Exclusively on the Criterion Channel

Following a highly successful tally successful China, wherever it topped TV ratings and became nan most-streamed TV bid passim nan country, Wong Kar Wai’s 1990s-set play “Blossoms Shanghai” will watercourse exclusively successful North America connected The Criterion Channel. Comprising 30 episodes, the show tracks nan emergence of a financial titan whose wealthiness comes successful nan aftermath of Shanghai opening its ain banal exchange.

Created and directed by Wong, nan filmmaker said of nan task successful a statement, “I americium thrilled to proceed my long-standing narration pinch Criterion pinch nan North American debut of my first bid connected nan Criterion Channel. The bid captures nan vitality of Shanghai’s roaring 90s, revealing cosmopolitan quality truths astir desire and destiny. We dream nan bid provides penetration into nan pivotal infinitesimal of China’s reinvention.”

Like galore of Wong’s works, “Blossoms Shanghai” contains beardown romanticist elements amid real-life humanities foundations. It was adapted from nan award-winning caller “Blossoms” by Jin Yucheng, which follows China’s economical roar during nan 1990s arsenic seen done nan eyes of Ah Bao, a fig galore will travel to cognize arsenic nan Jay Gatsby of Shanghai. Starting retired arsenic a simple, mean man pinch nary standing, Ah soon becomes a self-made millionaire, but must conflict to support his luck arsenic others activity to destruct him.

Ah is played by nan highly celebrated Chinese character Hu Ge, whose credits see nan Jackie Chan-produced “The Myth” and nan Chinese humanities play “Nirvana successful Fire,” for which he received Best Actor astatine nan 2016 Shanghai Television Festival. Hu would spell connected to triumph this grant again successful 2024 for his capacity successful “Blossoms Shanghai.”

The episodic bid represents the 3rd portion successful a trilogy astir Wong’s autochthonal Shanghai, including “In nan Mood for Love” and “2046,” but nan first to bespeak a communicative that takes spot successful his existent birthplace. All 3 now person a location pinch The Criterion Collection, pinch nan first 2 being featured successful their “World of Wong Kar Wai” container set. Other films included successful this broad postulation are “As Tears Go By,” “Days of Being Wild,” “Chungking Express,” “Fallen Angels,” and “Happy Together,” each of which are besides now streaming via The Criterion Channel.

“In nan Mood for Love” will besides beryllium returning to theaters this summertime to observe nan film’s 25th anniversary. You tin drawback nan Hong Kong humanities romance starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung starting June 27 successful NYC astatine nan IFC Center and Film astatine Lincoln Center, pinch a nationalist rollout to follow. Criterion will besides watercourse “Blossoms Shanghai” in nan UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand astatine immoderate constituent successful nan adjacent future.