shanghai triad have an interesting mo . it be really a socio historical commentary masquerading a a come of age story masquerade a a gangster film . yimou make bold storytelling choice use the servant boy of a gang lord mistress a the unlikely protagonist shift the setting of the film suddenly from bustle urban shanghai to the peaceful chinese countryside . the risk take pay off it be what separate triad from generic hollywood tripe . rather than some sort of high hand morality play or costume melodrama and yimou use the story to illustrate the corruption of innocence and shift loyalty and the endless struggle for power and dominance . yimou purposely subvert our expectation of the genre picture by deny any form of release any false catharsis or closure . the protagonist or viewer can only watch helplessly from the sideline a the cycle of violence and exploitation continue . this device will prove undoubtedly frustrate to a hollywood audience and i commend him for it .