Snowflower
Snowflower

Snowflower

2003TV ShowEnded1 SeasonMandarin

Shangguan Yan, alias "Nu Shen Long", has been wandering the Jianghu alone for 15 years in search of her mother after a mysterious family tragedy occurred when she was 8. She is highly skilled at martial arts and possesses a special sword known as the Phoenix Sword, which was nurtured together with the Dragon Sword by her shifu Bian Jiang Lao Ren. It is said that the owners of the two swords are destined to fall in love. However, the owner of the Dragon Sword is Sima Changfeng, a conflicted hero who's out to kill Shangguan Yan to avenge the deaths of his 30 clansmen who were allegedly slang by Shangguan Yan's father Shangguan Yun.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Metacritic58/100
Google Users75%
Director: Michael RymerGenres: Drama, History, Romance

Plot Summary

Set in 19th century China, Snow Flower tells the story of Lily and Snow Flower, two girls who form a lifelong bond through a secret "old-foot" writing system. Their lives are intertwined with the societal constraints and traditions of their time, including arranged marriages and the suppression of female individuality. The narrative explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the enduring power of connection against a backdrop of historical Chinese culture.

Critical Reception

Snow Flower received mixed to positive reviews, with many critics praising its visual beauty and the strong performances of its lead actresses. The film's exploration of female friendship and its depiction of historical Chinese customs were also noted. However, some reviewers found the pacing to be slow at times and certain narrative elements to be underdeveloped.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually stunning with evocative cinematography.
  • Compelling performances from the central cast, particularly in portraying deep female bonds.
  • The film's historical setting and cultural details are richly rendered.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's aesthetic qualities and the emotional core of the friendship depicted. Some viewers felt the story could have been more engaging or emotionally resonant.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Lisa See, which itself was inspired by the historical practice of "laotong" (eternal sisters) relationships and the secret "nu shu" writing system used by women in Hunan province, China.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review