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Colour Blossoms (桃色, Toh sik) is a 2004 Hong Kong film written and directed by Yonfan, and is the third in a loose trilogy of films inspired by Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion. The original Chinese title of Colour Blossoms literally translates as "Peach Colour", meaning sexual desire, one of the central themes in the film.^[1]

~~컬러 블러섬~~, Toh sik
aka ~~Color Blossoms~~, Peach Color, ~~Momoiro~~, 桃色, ~~美丽, Tao Se, Tao Si~~
genre - drama, romance, erotica
~~Cinematography - KEUNG Kwok-Man, Wang Yu~~
~~Run time 103 mins?~~

1 Production
2 Main cast
3 Reception
- 3.1 Critical response
4 Themes
5 Notes
6 Cast
- 6.1 variant spellings
7 Plot summary
8 Production/Reception
9 Soundtrack
10 Reviews
11 Pictures
12 Other links
13 References

[edit] Production

Yonfan began writing the script for Colour Blossoms in Venice, following the screening of his previous film, Breaking the Willow, at the Venice Film Festival.^[2] He had all three lead actresses in mind from the outset,^[3] in particular longtime friend Teresa Cheung for the part of Meili.^[4] Despite being a Hong Kong production, the cast and crew of the film came from a number of Asian countries, with actors from Japan (Matsuzaka and Yokouchi) and Korea (Harisu), and a filmmaking crew from mainland China, led by cinematographer Wang Yu. For the film's score Yonfan travelled personally to India to find a local composer, eventually hiring the talents of Surender Sodhi, a veteran of the Indian film industry.^[2]

Although Colour Blossoms had initially been planned as a low budget production, the actual cost ran to HK$10 million.^[2] The film was largely funded by Yonfan himself,^[5] but financing problems resulted in an extended filming period of 13 months.^[6] The film had difficulty attracting potential investors due to it's risqué subject matter,^[6] and a number of local actors had also been dissuaded from participating by their agents.^[7]

[edit] Main cast

Teresa Cheung as Meili. Yonfan has stated that Cheung was his inspiration for the film, although the character was not directly based on her personality.^[7] A first time actress, Cheung was initially reluctant to perform the nude and sexual scenes,^[8] but has defended the film's artistic qualities.^[2]^[9]
Keiko Matsuzaka as Madam Umeki. Regarded by Yonfan as one of his cinematic idols, Matsuzaka has said that Colour Blossoms was her most demanding film.^[2]
Harisu as young Madam Umeki. Like the character she plays in the film, Harisu is also a transgender.
Carl Ng as 4708. Ng was originally approached to play the role of Kim, but after reading the script "fell in love with the cop 4708".^[10] The character has no dialogue in the film, instead relying on gestures and movement, something Ng recognized as a challenge.^[2]
Sho Yokouchi as Kim. A former male model with no previous acting experience, Yokouchi had great difficulty with the film, admitting that he "just couldn't grasp the meaning."^[11] As a result he has since stated that he will never make another film, believing he is not suited to the work.^[1]^[2] Credited in the film as Sho.

[edit] Reception

Ratings
Brazil:	18
Hong Kong:	III
Japan:	R-15
Singapore:	R21

Prior to it's release, Colour Blossoms received strong criticism from the Hong Kong media for it's strong sexual themes and the involvement of lead actress Teresa Cheung, herself a controversial figure.^[5] It premiered in Hong Kong on October 27, 2004,^[1] and opened to the public the following day.^[9] During it's opening weekend it was the second highest grossing film in Hong Kong,^[12] but total box office earnings of HK$4,584,092 failed to recoup the film's budget.^[13]^[5] Colour Blossoms also received a cinema release in both Singapore and Japan,^[14] and was screened at a number of film festivals worldwide, including Berlinale,^[15] Cinemanila, ^[16] and the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.^[14]

[edit] Critical response

The film has received a very mixed response from critics. In a particuarly scathing review for Firecracker magazine, Alison Wong dismissed Colour Blossoms as "a sexual melting pot that is all style, little substance and virtually no chemistry", describing the S&M scenes as "almost laughable", and going on to say "that for all its lofty aspirations, the film has no driving purpose beyond attempting to titillate."^[17] Another critic wrote that the film is "incredibly dense, emotionally cold, and moves at a glacial pace", and that "Everything looks and sounds absolutely stunning [but] it just doesn't make any sense."^[18] Other negative reviews have nevertheless also praised the films visual aspects: Carl Davis at DVD Talk stated "There is no arguing that Colour Blossoms is a gorgeous looking movie", but that the director ultimately "gives us style over substance."^[19] A review at Fridae.com called the film "an undeniable feast for the eyes", but added that it "also veers dangerously into campy excess and plain old weirdness" while criticizing the "weak and unconvincing" characters and plot.^[20] However, some critics have defended the film's artistic merit. In a review for DVDActive, Bodhi Sarkar described the film as "a profoundly mesmerising journey of human sensuality and spirituality", going on to add that the "poetic camerawork, luminous cinematography and Surender Sodhi’s tranquilising soundtrack help create an enjoyable and thought provoking visual treat".^[21]

[edit] Themes

"For me the main theme of the film is love, that one can not only live for love, but also die for it, and if you can't die and [be] reborn for love, [then] it's not true love."

"This is a very novel film, about life and death, human and spirit, love and desire."

"The final product is very different from that in the creation process. At first I intended to depict a great deal of sensuality, and it turns out to be more like a kind of seduction and flirting with a richness in sentiments." Yonfan, [1]

Peony Pavilion trilogy/the current film uses the story of a love affair with sado-masochistic and transsexual elements to explore themes of desire, suffering, innocence and seduction. [8]

The Chinese title of Colour Blossoms translates into "Peach Colour". Peach, in the Chinese context, refers to Eros or sexual desire of both the hetero and homosexual variety. Eros and its backup band -- lust, obsession, sex and death -- are all played out in this CAT-III movie [4]

While Yonfan’s pervious movies explored the topics of sexuality and human longings, he pushes the envelop further this time by tackling erotic sexual scenes, sadomasochistic games, galore of shots featuring beautiful actors and actress’ skin and, last but not least, a subtle contemplation and questioning of the meanings of fantasy, sex and love. [7]

Specifically, Colour Blossoms is about the lengths we are willing to go for love. From the pangs of lust to the twisted cruelty of obsession, the intricate dynamics of pleasure and pain found in S&M, and the forbidden temptations of homo/lesbo erotica. [10]

The film displays various ideas of lust and desire but the underlying theme of everlasting love is predominant throughout the movie. Each character represents a piece of the bigger picture – 4708 frustratingly longs for a love that he knows he cannot have. Conversely, Madam Umeki reminisces over a previous passionate affair, yet still she is unhappy. The S&M scenes become a metaphor for pure love withstanding immeasurable pain and sacrifice. [11]

[1] dvd

[2] fridae

[3] dreamboat

[4] press conference

[5] films energize me

[6] Yon fan's controversial

[7] andrew cc huang

[8] berlinale

[9] bc magazine

[10] dvd talk

[11] dvd active

[edit] Notes

Colour Blossoms is the third film by Yonfan to be inspired by Tang Xianzu's classic The Peony Pavilion, following his earlier films Peony Pavilion (2001) and Breaking the Willow (2003). ^[3] Filmed on a budget of US$2 million (largely funded by himself),^[5] he describes the film as being "about life and death, human and spirit, love and desire". ^[2]

Yonfan had all three lead actresses in mind when he wrote the script, in particular Teresa Cheung, an old aquaintance,^[3] and Keiko Matsuzaka, whom he cites as one of his idols.^[2] Colour Blossoms was the film debut for both Cheung and former male model Sho Yokouchi (credited in the film as Sho). However, while Cheung would go on to recieve a number of awards and nominations for her performance, Yokouchi found the experience to be more traumatic, vowing never to make another film^[2] and later saying: "The script, and what I had to do on set, were very different. Everyone had a different script. My understanding of the movie was different from the director's, I just couldn't grasp the meaning."^[22] Actor Carl Ng had initially been offered the role of Kim (the photographer), but after reading the script he "fell in love with the cop 4708". ^[23]

the project had an unusually difficult production process because it was spurned by most of the talents and investment firms invited by Yonfan even with his the shining brand name...the difficult shooting that dragged on for more than 13 months because of financing troubles [7]

[edit] Cast

Teresa Cheung as Mei Li
Keiko Matsuzaka as Madam Umeki
Harisu as young Madam Umeki
Carl Ng as 4708
Sho Yokouchi as Kim
~~Kenneth Tsang~~
~~Feng Ku/Guk Fung~~
~~?Chiao Chiao/Jiao Jiao~~
~~?Chen Li Qin~~

[edit] variant spellings

~~Carl Ng, aka Carl Wu, Carl Ng Ka-Lung, Ng Ka Lung, Ka Long Ng~~
Yonfan, aka Yeung Fan, Yonfan MANSHIH - 楊凡, Yon Fan, Fan Yeung
Teresa Cheung, aka Teresa Chiang, Teresa CHIANG Siu Wai, Teresa Cheung Siu-Wai, Siu Wai Teresa Cheung, Siu Wai, Siu Wai Cheung, Teresa Zhang, Cheung Siu Wai, Teresa Bee, Teresa Chiang Siu-Wai, Theresa Chung
~~Keiko Matsuzaka, aka Matsuzaka Keiko, Matsusaka Keiko, Matszaka Keiko~~
~~Kenneth Tsang, aka Kenneth Tsang Gong~~
~~Ha Li Su, Ha Lisu, Ha Lee Su~~
~~Fruit Chan Gor~~
~~Ku Feng, Goo Fung~~
~~Chiu Kou~~

[edit] Plot summary

[edit] Production/Reception

Teresa Cheung - Relucant to strip for the film. [2]

Screened at the Berlin Film Festival. [1]

Yonfan finished with Hong Kong film industry. [1]

Inspiration/themes [6]

Box office [7]

Sho/Cheung acting debut

[edit] Soundtrack

http://sensasian.com/view/product.cgi/EN/M5217H

[edit] Reviews

[edit] Pictures

[edit] Other links

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Alison Dyer, "A View from Hong Kong ... Colour Blossoms press event and premiere", Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review, December 7, 2004. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j The Making of Colour Blossoms, featurette on Panorama Distributions (Hong Kong) 2xDVD release of Colour Blossoms, YesAsia Catalog No. 1003884463
^ ^a ^b ^c "Flesh for Fantasy", FiRST magazine, 2004. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.
^ Alison Dyer, "A View from Hong Kong ... Colour Blossoms press event and premiere", Hong Kong Entertainment News In Review, December 7, 2004. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Alexandra A. Seno , "A filmmaker bucks Hong Kong trends", International Herald Tribune, February 7, 2005. Retrieved on February 14, 2007.
^ ^a ^b Andrew C.C. Huang, "Retrospective of Hong Kong master Yonfan and his new movie Colour Blossoms", Art of Andrew C.C. Huang, originally printed in Taiwan News on August 12, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Chanel No.5?", bc Magazine, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
^ "Films energise me, says ‘promising star’", The Hindu, December 4, 2005. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Yon Fan's controversial Colour Blossoms to premier", Xinhuanet, October 27, 2004. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ Alvin Tan, "Closer to Carl", Fridae, March 24, 2005. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
^ "Extreme dreamboat", The Electric New Paper, October 19, 2005. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
^ Hong Kong Box Office, October 28–November 3, 2004, Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 15, 2007.
^ Colour Blossoms, Hong Kong Film Archive. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
^ ^a ^b Release dates for Toh sik, IMDb. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
^ Panorama 2005: Tao Se (Colour Blossoms), Berlinale. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
^ This Year's Films, 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
^ Alison Wong, "Wilting: Colour Blossoms", Firecracker. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ Kozo, Colour Blossoms review, LoveHKFilm.com, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ Carl Davis, Colour Blossoms review, DVD Talk, May 18, 2005. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ Fridae Movie Club - 22 March 2005, Fridae. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ Bodhi Sarkar, Colour Blossoms review, DVDActive. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
^ "Extreme dreamboat", The Electric New Paper, October 19, 2005. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.
^ Alvin Tan, "Closer to Carl", Fridae, March 24, 2005. Retrieved on January 13, 2007.

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