Kawashima Yoshiko (film)

Kawashima Yoshiko (in Chinese 川島芳子) is a 1990 Hong Kong historical drama film directed by Eddie Fong based on the life of Yoshiko Kawashima, a Manchu princess who was brought up as a Japanese and served as a spy in the service of the Japanese Kwantung Army and Manchukuo during the Second World War. The film stars Anita Mui as Kawashima, Andy Lau, Patrick Tse and Derek Yee.

Kawashima Yoshiko
Film poster
Traditional Chinese	川島芳子
Simplified Chinese	川岛芳子
Hanyu Pinyin	Chuān Dǎo Fāng Zǐ
Jyutping	Cyun1 Dou2 Fong1 Zi2
Directed by	Eddie Fong
Screenplay by	Lilian Lee
Produced by	Teddy Robin
Starring	Anita Mui Andy Lau Patrick Tse Derek Yee
Cinematography	Jingle Ma
Edited by	Henry Cheung
Music by	Jim Sam
Production company	Paragon Films
Distributed by	Golden Harvest
Release date	28 July 1990 (1990-07-28)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	HK$11,798,844

Plot

Yoshiko Kawashima is the 14th princess of Prince Su of the Qing dynasty. In order to revive Manchu culture, Prince Su sent Yoshiko to Japan to be trained as a spy by Naniwa Kawashima, who also deprived Yoshiko of her virginity. Yoshiko was ordered to marry a Mongol prince, although the marriage was a failure. After breaking with Naniwa, Yoshiko went to Shanghai and, with her beauty and leverage, she attaches herself to Japanese general Tanaka Takayoshi and helps Puyi establish Manchukuo in Xinjing. She becomes a commander of a Manchukuo army unit and a Japanese spy, seeking revenge on revolutionaries. But upon seeing her former lover Cloud, who became a revolutionary, being arrested for assassinating Takayoshi, Yoshiko has a change of mind. But a crisis will ensue.

Cast

• Anita Mui as Yoshiko Kawashima / Jin Bihui (Kam Bik-fai)
• Andy Lau as Fook / Cloud
• Patrick Tse as Commander Tanaka Takayoshi
• Derek Yee as Amakasu Masahiko/ Wong Ka Hung
• Idy Chan as Empress Wan Jung
• Lawrence Ng as Lam
• Matthew Wong as Ganzhu'erzhabu 'Ganjuurjab'
• Ken Lo as Tanaka'a aide
• Pau Fong as Advocate Lee (Yoshiko's lawyer)
• Kam Piu as Prosecutor at Yoshiko's trial
• Tin Ching as Judge at Yoshiko's trial
• Sze Mei Yee as Emperor Puyi
• Blackie Ko
• Wai Ching
• Chow Suk Yee as Chizuko (Yoshiko's aide)
• Ho Chi Moon as Yoshiko's party guest

Box office

The film grossed HK$11,798,844 at the Hong Kong box office during its theatrical run from 28 July to 23 August 1990.

Award nominations

• 12th Hong Kong Film Awards
  • Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Derek Yee)
  • Nominated: Best Cinematography (Jingle Ma)
  • Nominated: Best Art Direction (Eddie Mok, Fang Ying)
• 27th Golden Horse Awards
  • Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Andy Lau)

See also

• Andy Lau filmography
• Anita Mui filmography

External links

• Kawashima Yoshiko at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase
• Kawashima Yoshiko at Hong Kong Cinemagic
• Kawashima Yoshiko at IMDb
• Kawashima Yoshiko Review at sogoodreviews.com