The movie tells the story of Ruan Lingyu's life, portrayed by Maggie Cheung, focusing on her final film "New Woman," and while I wasn’t entirely taken with its occasionally muddled approach, it’s undeniably beautiful to look at. She was a celebrated star in China’s silent film era of the 1930s who lived intensely and ultimately became victimized by political forces increasingly shaped by the Kuomintang. Her involvement with Tang Chi-Shan, a married tea exporter played by Chin Han, along with her roles that sometimes depicted questionable behavior, contributed to her reputation as someone beyond redemption. The narrative is broken up by scenes featuring other members of the film’s production team discussing their creative and political intentions; these segments, however, disrupt the flow and emotional impact of Ruan Lingyu's story. It’s a depiction of hypocrisy within an old system that preached one thing but practiced another—a point powerfully conveyed through Cheung’s nuanced performance as Ruan Lingyu finds herself caught in manufactured scandals leading inevitably to her downfall. The film's visual design highlights the societal shift occurring as China moves away from Imperial rule toward something resembling democracy, with men adopting Western attire while women remain in more traditional clothing, a subtle reminder of their perceived decorative purpose despite the film’s progressive themes regarding gender equality. It was impressive to see clips from her actual films included, especially given that many were lost due to official censorship. As an examination of societal double standards, this is a sophisticated and visually appealing work.

Source on TMDB