Born in Shanghai, Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai spent 10 years creating the 30-episode mainland Chinese drama “Blossoms Shanghai,” which has gained phenomenal popularity since its release. To date, the related topics on Weibo have garnered over 11.5 billion reads, and Douyin (TikTok) topic views have reached 19.1 billion. The cast, predominantly featuring Shanghai-born stars, has also drawn significant attention. Hu Ge, who was the unequivocal first choice for the male lead, revealed in an interview that Wong Kar-wai’s casting process was as meticulous as “conducting a household investigation.”
As an internationally renowned director, Wong Kar-wai has previously directed several classic films such as “In the Mood for Love,” “The Grandmaster,” and “Chungking Express,” earning him best director awards at Cannes, Venice, and Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Festival. “Blossoms Shanghai,” starring Hu Ge, Tiffany Tang, Ma Yili, and Zheng Kai, is Wong’s first foray into television. The series is noted for its exquisite visual aesthetics and composition, with each frame being stunningly beautiful.
Set against the backdrop of the commercial battles in Shanghai during the early years of China’s 1990s “reform and opening-up” period, the series tells the story of the protagonist “A Bao,” played by Hu Ge, and his journey to wealth. Since its premiere late last year, the series has gained immense popularity, even boosting tourism on Shanghai’s Huanghe Road.
According to the “2024 First Quarter TV Drama Report” released by Sina Weibo on May 7, “Blossoms Shanghai” ranked second in popularity, just behind the costume drama “Walking with the Phoenix” starring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin.
Regarding casting, Hu Ge was the unequivocal choice for the role of “A Bao” in “Blossoms Shanghai.” Wong Kar-wai decided on Hu Ge from the very beginning of the adaptation process. In an interview, Hu Ge shared, “Before the official shooting started, I had numerous conversations with the director. Initially, I thought he was observing me in a casual, natural state to see if I was suitable for the role of A Bao.”
Hu Ge mentioned that he later realized, “The director asked very detailed questions during each conversation, almost like conducting a household investigation. He asked about my studies, life, emotions, work, and more, repeatedly. He truly dissected my personal experiences and infused them into the character. He said that the script is alive, and it continuously grows during filming.”
Known for his pursuit of perfection, Wong Kar-wai’s “Blossoms Shanghai,” which started filming in 2020 after years of preparation, had still not wrapped up by October 2022. By that time, the production team had already wished Hu Ge a happy birthday three times on Weibo, sparking discussions about Hu Ge filming “Blossoms Shanghai” from his 30s into his 40s.
Wong Kar-wai, always wearing his signature sunglasses, is known for the lengthy production periods of his projects, which often spark controversy. However, Hu Ge’s fans have reassured him by saying, “Good things are worth the wait, and quality work takes time. We are patient, knowing that ‘Sunglasses Wong’ is famous for his ‘procrastination.'”
“Blossoms Shanghai” will premiere in Taiwan on MyVideo starting June 14, with five episodes released every Friday. Wong Kar-wai stated, “I am very pleased that my first television series, ‘Blossoms Shanghai,’ will soon meet the audience. Born in Shanghai, this series is a nostalgic revisit for me, allowing me to relive the changes in Shanghai during the 1980s and 1990s. Every city has its ‘blossoming’ era.”