Shadow Magic

Shadow Magic

116 mins | Drama, History | Sept. 8, 2000

Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?

Shadow Magic

116 mins | Drama, History | Sept. 8, 2000

Shadow Magic
Beijing, 1902: an enterprising young portrait photographer named Liu Jinglun, keen on new technology, befriends a newly-arrived Englishman who's brought projector, camera, and Lumière-brothers' shorts to open the Shadow Magic theater. Liu's work with Wallace brings him conflict with tradition and his father's authority, complicated by his falling in love with Ling, daughter of Lord Tan, star of Beijing's traditional opera. Liu sees movies as his chance to become wealthy and worthy of Ling. When the Shadow Magic pair are invited to show the films to the Empress Dowager, things look good. But, is disaster in the script? And, can movies preserve tradition even as they bring change?
IMDb rating 7.2
Producers
Original title 西洋镜
Directors Ann Hu
Writers Ann Hu, Shiqiang Zuo, Louyi Tang, Kate Raisz, Bob McAndrew, Huaizhuo Liu, Dan Huang, Yixiong Chen

Cast

Jared Harris

as Raymond Wallace

Xia Yu

as Liu Jinglun (Liu Zhonglun)

Yufei Xing

as Ling

Peiqi Liu

as Master Ren (Ren JingFeng)

Lü Liping

as Madame Ren

Jingming Wang

as Old Liu

Yusheng Li

as Lord Tan (Tan Xinpei)

Yukui Zhang

as Lao Chang

Chen Chuang

as Mi Hu

Zhongwei Zheng

as Fu Guan

Qi Mu

as Jewelry Tower

Li Bin

as Empress Ci Xi

Fang Qingzhuo

as Widow Jiang