I was surprised to read the disclaimer at the end of this film to find that this is a fictional tale about the last empress and how she rose up through the ranks of unwanted concubine to hold a position of power in China, causing death, destruction and overall mayhem. It apparently is fiction, which makes it less interesting, but it is none the less watchable. It stars the beautiful, beguiling Chingmy Yau as Yu-Lan, who became a concubine, only to be rejected after one uneasy sexual encounter with the emperor. She enlists the help of two prostitutes to try to find out how to get that edge and it works. The movie is very suggestive and there is (simulated) sexual activity but I like the fact that very little is actually seen. It is not a great movie, but it passes the time pretty well. Chingmy Yau has been good in most of the films I've seen her in and here she plays up her obvious sexuality. She works for this film, and thats enough. If you like erotically charged period drama check it out.
Review of Lover of the Last Empress
