The Soong Sisters (1997)
"Song jia huang chao" (original title)

The Soong family was a political dynasty in China that reached the highest levels of power. This film follows the lives of the three Soong daughters, who were educated in America and ... See full summary »

Director:

Mabel Cheung

Writer:

Alex Law

Stars:

Maggie Cheung, Michelle Yeoh, Vivian Wu

10 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Maggie Cheung	...	Soong Ching-ling / Madam Sun
Michelle Yeoh	...	Soong Ai-ling / Madam Kung (as Michelle Khan)
Vivian Wu	...	Soong May-ling / Madam Chiang
Winston Chao	...	Sun Yat-Sen
Hsing-kuo Wu	...	Chiang Kai-Shek (as Hsing Kuo Wu)
Zhenhua Niu	...	H.H.Kung (as Zhen Hua Niu)
Elaine Jin	...	Madam Soong
Wen Jiang	...	Charlie Soong

Storyline

The Soong family was a political dynasty in China that reached the highest levels of power. This film follows the lives of the three Soong daughters, who were educated in America and returned to China. Ai-ling (the oldest) married a wealthy and powerful businessman. Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary founder of modern China. Mei-ling (the youngest) married Chiang Kai-shek, China's leader during World War II. The sisters captured the world's fascination for their brilliant marriages and their strong influence on their nation.

---

Plot Keywords:

china | power | politics

---

Taglines:

One loved money. One loved power. And one loved China.

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

---

Details

Country:

Hong Kong Japan China

Language:

Mandarin

Release Date:

1 May 1997 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

The Soong Sisters

Filming Locations:

Beijing Film Studio, Beijing, China

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fuji Television Network, Golden Harvest Company, Pony Canyon

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Main Title"
Written by Kitaro
Performed by Kitaro and Randy Miller
Courtesy of PONYCANYON

User Reviews

Politics and history aside, this is pro film-making

It is interesting, and logical of course, that the reaction to this Hong Kong flick ranges from anathema to anthem, but, for overseas Chinese who neither speak the lingo nor are too familiar with the facts, this "Soong Dynasty" cinematic fable is more than watchable. That it is more fable than fact is readily obvious, yet the fable is more than entertaining. It is doubtful in the extreme, that Ching-ling survived miscarriage and 42 days sloshing through the marshes as portrayed, but until a more sober and satisfactory account of Mme. Sun's life and accomplishments are on the film record, this portrait will have to do. The production is super, even if the glib pictorials may off-put in their slick projections. And, finally, from this perch, one of the most engaging sidelights here is the wondrous staging of the opera house, wherein Chiang Kai-shek ogles and woos May-ling. I found myself wishing the principals would get out of the way to let the opera speak for itself in toto. Reminded me of how Hollywood always cut away from more interesting spectacle to zoom in on the treacly romance of the overpaid and under-talented "stars." Oh, well, you can't have everything, and there was enough of the opera and its stellar performers, inter-cut nicely with war footage. Soneone should make a film about Chinese opera, and I don't mean that saga about the two star=crossed Peking Opera stars, and especially not that impossible restaging of that improbable romance between a French diplomat and a cross-dressing starlet.