Review: Stanley Kwan's 'Rouge' a Lush and Heartbreaking Melodrama

Of all the filmmakers to come out of Hong Kong's Second New Wave, Stanley Kwan may be the best at eliding the sensual with the unknown. I guess you could say the same about Wong Kar Wai, but Kwan's 1987 melodrama/ghost story "Rouge" showcases the filmmaker's unique talent for reflecting character's emotions into camera movements, lighting and shadow play in ways that don't detract from the reality that's on screen. It's such an elusive beauty to behold, and one I think will keep me coming back to this under-seen gem of Chinese filmmaking.

The Criterion Collection presents Stanley Kwan's 1987 melodrama on Blu-ray for the first time ever in the U.S. with a new 4K restoration undertaken by Fortune Star at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Hong Kong and Bologna, Italy. The restoration was approved by Kwan and looks all-around terrific, with Kwan's lush mise-en-scène beautifully intact with thick and rich textures. Colors offer some depth as well, and the alternate 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack included offers a much more expressive and overwhelming audio presentation than the standard mono audio track.

Fleur (Anita Mui), a high-class courtesan in one of Hong Kong's "flower houses" in the 1930s, falls in love with Twelfth Master Chan (Leslie Cheung), a rich heir to a chain of pharmacies. The duo, both wayward for different reasons, agree to a suicide pact amidst the opium teahouses in Hong Kong during that era. But when Fleur's ghost mysteriously shows up 50 years later and implores a young couple (Alex Man and Emily Chu) to help her find peace, the heartbreaking truth of Fleur's past comes to light.

"Rouge" is one of those films that feels so delicate and illusory that it passes right through you, leaving melancholy in its wake. That's even reflected in the somewhat dreamy cinematography, filled with floating overhead and tracking shots. The physical and emotional performances by Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui elevate those dreamy qualities even further, but Kwan slyly reintroduces reality during those moments of elevation.

As for special features, there's a 40-minute career-spanning interview with Kwan and his mentee, filmmaker Sasha Chuk, that is worth the price of purchase alone. It's a deep-dive conversation where Kwan discusses his queer identity and how he worked those issues of gender into his work. This is an under-appreciated work from China, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested.

Other special features include:

� "Yang � Yin: Gender in Chinese Cinema" – A 1997 documentary by Kwan exploring the representation of queerness and LGBT identity in Chinese film
� "Still Love You After All These" – A 1997 memoir film by Kwan about his Hong Kong identity
� Trailer
� New English subtitle translation
� Plus: An essay by film programmer and critic Dennis Lim

"Rouge" is now available on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection.