'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' - Foot Binding and Female Aesthetic Ideals

By Aphrodite M.

Director Wayne Wang’s adaptation of Lisa See’s bestselling novel, “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” is a story about female friendships which delves into societal mores regarding female aesthetic ideals, behavioral codes, and female roles within society. Although the film has parallel narratives set in 19th Century China and in modern Shanghai, the questions raised are timeless and universal. 

Continue reading about the value of aesthetic ideals and the marginalization of women on Yahoo! Movies.

'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan' is Compelling yet Complacent

By Aphrodite M.

"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is a compelling tale about two sets of friends separated by several generations. Although the two narratives about deep female friendships in 19th Century China and in present day Shanghai are interesting, the film unfortunately remains in a stagnant bubble which doesn't create enough of a climax to really move the viewer.

It's worth seeing if only to experience Hugh Jackman singing in Chinese. Of course, there is also the engaging history on foot binding as a tool in propelling young Chinese women's status, class and desirability. Questions of what creates a society's aesthetic ideals, and how often times these ideals become ways to keep women subordinate, are raised in the viewer's mind as a result of the historical narrative.

Continue reading on Yahoo! AC. 

Hugh Jackman in a scene from 'Snow Flower and the Secret Fan'

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