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Center Stage

Original title: Ruan Ling Yu
  • 19911991
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Romance
Biopic of 1930s Chinese actress Lingyu Ruan.Biopic of 1930s Chinese actress Lingyu Ruan.Biopic of 1930s Chinese actress Lingyu Ruan.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Stanley Kwan
  • Writers
    • Peggy Chiao
    • Kang Chien Chiu
  • Stars
    • Maggie Cheung
    • Han Chin
    • Tony Ka Fai Leung
Top credits
  • Director
    • Stanley Kwan
  • Writers
    • Peggy Chiao
    • Kang Chien Chiu
  • Stars
    • Maggie Cheung
    • Han Chin
    • Tony Ka Fai Leung
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 15 nominations

    Photos59

    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)
    Ruan Ling Yu (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Maggie Cheung
    Maggie Cheung
    • Ruan Ling-yuas Ruan Ling-yu…
    Han Chin
    Han Chin
    • Tang Chi-Shanas Tang Chi-Shan…
    Tony Ka Fai Leung
    Tony Ka Fai Leung
    • Tsai Chu-shengas Tsai Chu-sheng…
    Carina Lau
    Carina Lau
    • Lily Lias Lily Li…
    Waise Lee
    Waise Lee
    • Li Min-weias Li Min-wei
    Li-li Li
    • Selfas Self
    • (as Lily Li)
    Lawrence Ng
    Lawrence Ng
    • Chang Ta-Minas Chang Ta-Min…
    Cecilia Yip
    Cecilia Yip
    • Lin Chu-Chuas Lin Chu-Chu
    Kelvin Wong
    Kelvin Wong
    • Nier Erhas Nier Erh
    San Yip
    • Ms Liuas Ms Liu
    Paul Chang Chung
    Paul Chang Chung
    • Boss of Lianhuaas Boss of Lianhua
    • (as Paul Chang)
    Yanyan Chen
    Yanyan Chen
    • Self - Interviewas Self - Interview
    Lingyu Ruan
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Daisy Tian Dai
    • Hsiao-Yu (3 years)as Hsiao-Yu (3 years)
    Ta-Nan Huang
    Stanley Kwan
    Stanley Kwan
    • Selfas Self
    Yu Sun
    • Self - Interviewas Self - Interview
    Wei Wang
      • Director
        • Stanley Kwan
      • Writers
        • Peggy Chiao
        • Kang Chien Chiu
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit
      A film so delicate you can almost break it off in your hand, this is a stunning biography of Ruan Lingyu, China's first real movie star, a woman who lived a "colorful" life and was dead before she was 30. Director Stanley Kwan deftly mixes his narrative with actual film clips, re-creations of lost films, interviews with survivors, and his own conversations with his cast. The result is a kaleidoscope of emotion and tragedy. Maggie Cheung is nothing less than astonishing as Ruan, and she is ably supported by Tony Leung (of Anna's the lover). —STSH
      • actress
      • timeframe 1930s
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Genres
        • Biography
        • Drama
        • Romance
      • Parents guide
        • Add content advisory

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        With her win for Best Actress at the 1992 Berlin Film Festival, Maggie Cheung became the first Chinese actor to win a major European film award.
      • Connections
        Featured in Still Love You After All These (1997)
      • Soundtracks
        Buried My Heart
        Music by Johnny Chen

        Lyrics by Daryl Yao

        Performed by Tracy Huang

      User reviews16

      Review
      Top review
      9/10
      Maggie Cheung is excellent
      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.
      helpful•3
      1
      • crossbow0106
      • Mar 9, 2008

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • February 20, 1992 (Hong Kong)
      • Country of origin
        • Hong Kong
      • Languages
        • Cantonese
        • Mandarin
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Actress
      • Filming locations
        • China
      • Production companies
        • Golden Harvest Company
        • Golden Way Films Ltd.
        • Paragon Films Ltd.
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        2 hours 6 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

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