Xin Shang Hai tan

_Shanghai Grand_ is a beautifully filmed period gangster film set in, as the title might suggest, Shanghai. It's a very dark film with a film noir feel, gritty and, at times, graphically violent. The use of silent movie style placards to introduce different "chapters" in the film is novel and helps anchor _Shanghai Grand_ in the period in which it is set.

As is the case with many Honkonese films, themes of love, betrayal, honour and duty intertwine to create a complex and interesting plot; careful composition and cinematography add to the mix to make _Shanghai Grand_ a very proficient and worthwhile experience.