Shanghai Triad

Shanghai Triad is a classic gangster film directed by Zhang Yimou in 1995. The film takes place in Shanghai, over the course of seven days in the 1930s. We see the film through the eyes of Shuisheng, a young boy, who has just arrived from the countryside. His Uncle Liu sent for him, to work as a servant for Jinabo, a singer and girlfriend of the Boss, Tang. Jinabo cheats on Tang with one of his men named Song. Only after a couple of days of being in Shanghai, Shuisheng witnessed a rival gang attack between the Boss and a rival boss, Fat Yu. Shuisheng uncle is killed in the fight. Tang decides to relocate for a while to a small island with his men, Jinabo and Shuisheng. Jinabo makes an acquaintance with a woman named Cuihau, who has a daughter that reminds Jinabo of her own childhood. Coming in contact with the woman results in Cuihau’s death along with her lover, Tang has them killed. Tang tells Jinabo she should’ve been involved with Cuihau, claiming she is responsible for their death. On the last day, Song arrives to the island. During a game, Tang confronts Song about working for his rival Fat Yu. Tang’s people kill Song’s men and buried him alive. Tang also killed Jinabo for betraying him. Before she is killed, Tang informs her that Cuihau’s daughter will be the new Jinabo when she gets older. The final scene of the film ends with Shuisheng tied upside down on a ship as it sails back to Shanghai with Tang and Cuihau daughter aboard.

The film gave a closer look at the underworld violence. It showed how corrupted people were for power. The film also touches on innocence. It showed how the lives of innocent people get taken away by these mobsters. Jinabo tells Shuisheng that she was born in the countryside as well; but we see how she allowed the fast life of Shanghai to corrupt her innocence. Shuisheng an innocent boy who gets put into a dangerous environment unwillingly, he witnessed such cruel things anyone rarely ever sees, let alone a child.

I personally thought Shanghai Triad is a good movie. Usually with gangster movies the gangsters are portrayed as cool individuals, but this film focused more on the people that were getting hurt by them. Even though this film wasn’t very violent, the events that took place in a criminal underworld were presented well.