Pan Jin Lian zhi qian shi jin sheng (1989)

Director:

Clara Law

Stars:

Joey Wang, Wilson Lam, Lap-Man Sin

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Joey Wang	...	Lotus
Wilson Lam	...	Wu Lung
Lap-Man Sin	...	Simon Hsiao (as Lap-Man Tan)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chui-Ling Chan
Fung-bing Chan
Lap Ban Chan	...	Wu Ta's Great Grandmother
Si-Ngai Chan	...	Young Lotus
Fung-na Cheung
Chiao Chiao	...	Fortune Teller
On-Ling Chow
Gam-Tim Ho
Hao-Chuan Ho
Feng Ku	...	Principal
Mo-Fan Kwok
Ling-Mei Lai

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by female

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Taglines:

A tale of ancient cruelty and modern revenge.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin Cantonese

Release Date:

16 February 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

This Day, Previous Life

Box Office

Gross:

$123,254 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Golden Harvest Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Haunted by the past

A lovely girl growing up in modern China is haunted by flashes of another time, images that start entering her life for real as she comes of age. It gets harder and harder to tell the past and present apart, and she finds that now, as before, her beauty can be more of a curse than a blessing.

The haunting idea that you must let go of the past in order to be free of it, is driven home by the deeply moving performances of a fine cast. The film is lush and beautiful, rewarding the viewer with fascinating glimpses of the Imperial past and the industrial present.

This film was banned in China because it implies that the Revolution hasn't really changed things—power is still in the hands of the few, only the names and costumes have changed.

I found this film as a rental and had to get my own copy. Its appeal is enduring, and I've enjoyed it more every time I've watched it.