Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Synopsis: In 19th-century China, seven year old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong - or "old sames" - bound together for eternity. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan. In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong's descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection, hidden from them in the folds of the antique white silk fan, or risk losing one another forever.

Genre: Drama, History

Director(s): Wayne Wang

Actors: Russell Wong, Bingbing Li, Archie Kao, Ji-hyun Jun

Production: Fox Searchlight

1 win & 1 nomination.


IMDB:: 6.1
Metacritic:: 42
Rotten Tomatoes:: 21%

Collection Edit Watch PDF Buy

: PG-13
Year:: 2011
: 120 min
: $1,346,503
: Website
: 16 Views

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on the same day.
Their feet bound on the same day.
At that moment,
their destinies tied forever.
Mama, when can I go out to play?
Lily, this is more important.
We must make your feet perfect so the
matchmaker can find you a good husband.
Madam, it is done.
Get up, walk.
Get up!
Walk.
Mama, it hurts.
Ten circles of the room.
Snow Flower! What are you doing?
Come back! Walk!
Only through pain will you find beauty.
Only through suffering
will you find peace.
I wrap, I bind.
But you will have the reward.
Come.
Come.
Back, again.
Again.
Mama!
These are the most perfect feet
I have ever seen.
These are true golden lilies.
I will be able to find her a good family.
But given your circumstances...
...we must make another match first.
I have found you a laotong.
Your sister in heart for life.
Her name is Snow Flower,
and she is from Tongkou.
Tongkou?
A rich girl is too good for my daughter.
This is true. Her family is privileged.
Her grandfather was an imperial scholar.
But these girls
have compatible astrology signs...
...so her mother does not mind
this class difference.
Can I meet her now?
Snow Flower?
Nu shu is a secret language
between women.
It is personal,
between you and your laotong.
That is why you learn it together.
So you will know what is in her heart.
Bright.
Moon.
- Correct?
- Yes.
The Temple of Gupo fair is a holy place.
We are here today in front of Gupo
to write your laotong contract.
And make your vows
of eternal commitment.
My hand opens to yours.
We of good affection...
...shall never sever our bond.
We will be laotong for all eternity.
Why can't you grow up?
Your mother's right.
You don't get these opportunities
every day.
You have to go to New York.
You shouldn't feel guilty.
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