in shanghai triad and yi mou zhang train his lens on a gangster girlfriend and her young servant boy a the mob lurk in the background do what mob do . a character study which focus on li gong wonderful portrayal of a kept woman whose singing and beauty take her from peasant life to wealthy emptiness and there little story to be find a the film move serenely from cabaret song and dance number to pastoral scenic beauty . those who appreciate the chinese culture will enjoy this lyric and beautiful film the most . for many westerner and however and there will not enough of a story arc to make for a satisfying watch . ( b ) .