Wong Kar Wai‘s acclaimed series “Blossoms Shanghai” has officially secured a debut later this year on The Criterion Channel. The Shanghai-set drama that takes place during the 1990s has an impressive 30-episode count and became quite the phenomenon when it was released in China, earning a reputation as the most-streamed TV series nationwide.
The news was shared with us by Criterion themselves as they proudly made the announcement today that they would be airing the highly anticipated work from Kar Wai, his very first attempt at an episodic television project in his lengthy career as a director. An airdate has yet to be announced.
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An official synopsis for “Blossoms Shanghai” courtesy of The Criterion Channel:
An adaptation of Jin Yucheng’s award-winning novel ‘Blossoms,’ the series chronicles the ascent of self-made millionaire Ah Bao, the Jay Gatsby of Shanghai, during the economic boom that followed the opening of the Shanghai stock exchange. The major Chinese actor Hu Ge stars as Bao, personifying the idealism and adventurism that defined the 1990s. While ‘In the Mood for Love’ pays tribute to the Shanghainese community in Hong Kong, ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ is Wong Kar Wai’s first attempt to tell a story about his birthplace, at one of the most intriguing moment in its recent memory.
Of course, Kar Wai’s previous feature films such as “In The Mood For Love,” “2046,” “Chungking Express,” “The Grandmaster,” and “Fallen Angels” have become landmarks for Hong Kong and Asian cinema. So, the potential is nearly endless for his move into television with “Blossoms Shanghai,” and landing at Criterion Channel will allow Western audiences to experience the project as intended.
“I am thrilled to continue my long-standing relationship with Criterion with the North American debut of my first series on The Criterion Channel. The series captures the vitality of Shanghai’s roaring 90s, revealing universal human truths about desire and destiny. We hope the series provides insight into the pivotal moment of China’s reinvention,” the accomplished filmmaker said in an official statement.
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When exactly “Blossoms Shanghai” will be airing hasn’t been announced just yet, but we’ll certainly share any further updates as they happen. Before all that, you can watch a special message from the director, which is below.