MOVIE REVIEW : Artful ‘Blush’ Traces Three Lives in China

Suffering women and heartless men, tears and betrayals, pregnancies and miscarriages, emotional confrontations in pouring rainstorms, “Blush” has all the elements of classic soap opera. But this is a soap opera from China, and that makes a considerable and very positive difference.

China’s cinema is one of the world’s most involving because its filmmakers, with varying degrees of candor and intensity, are often engaged in a reexamination of their country’s turbulent history.

Centered on the outskirts of Shanghai in 1949, just after the Communist takeover, “Blush” benefits from the texture gained by being set against a society undergoing a radical top-to-bottom transformation.

The action starts on Gardenia Street, a fashionable pleasure district, with the closing of a brothel called the Red Happiness Inn. The prostitutes are rounded up and dutifully pointed toward medical examinations and political re-education.

Qiuyi (Wang Ji) looks to be the establishment’s alluring queen bee, while her timid protegee Xiao’e (He Saifei), born into the brothel life, hardly dares draw a breath without her friend’s approval. Inseparable before the revolution, they now will follow two different paths.

The more intrepid Qiuyi escapes from the indoctrination center and takes refuge with her favorite client, Lao Pu (Wang Zhiwen), the young heir of a wealthy family who is still living in luxury off the sweat of stalwart peasants.

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Xiao’e, meanwhile, has to suffer through the regimentation--complete with lectures, hard labor, drab blue uniforms and group singing--the party believes will turn these sex workers into productive members of the New Society.

Based on a novel by Su Tong, author of “Raise the Red Lantern,” “Blush” is directed by Li Shaohong, one of the few female members of China’s celebrated Fifth Generation of filmmakers.

Concerned with emotional nuance, Li Shaohong gets excellent performances out of both actresses as their lives intertwine with each other’s and with Lao Pu’s. “Blush’s” trio of protagonists are portrayed with a level of psychological care that adds more than usual interest.

Also a strong plus is the film’s sense of period, its re-creation of the streets, factories and private homes of the China of half a century ago. Richly appointed and beautifully photographed, “Blush” is always visually attractive.

Where the film tends to be less involving is in its political outlook. More of a mainstream, audience picture than such celebrated Chinese efforts as Tian Zhuangzhuang’s “The Blue Kite,” Chen Kaige’s “Farewell, My Concubine” and Zhang Yimou’s “To Live,” “Blush” is largely uncritical of past government actions, accepting the good the revolution has accomplished at face value. While that means a lack of the kind of intensity those films possess, “Blush’s” artfulness makes it worthwhile nevertheless.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: adult material and discreet lovemaking scenes.

‘Blush’

Wang Ji: Qiuyi

Wang Zhiwen: Lao Pu

He Saifei: Xiao’e

Wang Rouli: Mrs. Pu

Song Xiuling: Ruifeng

An Ocean Film Co. Ltd. presentation in association with Beijing Film Studio, released by First Run Features. Director Li Shaohong. Producers Chen Kunming, Jimmy Tan. Executive producer Cheng Zhigu. Screenplay Ni Zhen and Li Shaohong, based on the novel by Su Tong. Cinematographer Zeng Nianping. Editor Zhou Xinxia. Costumes Liu Jianhua. Music Guo Wenjing. Art directors Chen Yiyun, Lin Chaoxing. Running time: 1 hour, 59 minutes.

* Exclusively at the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 274-6860.