Review of ‘Blossoms Shanghai’: Wong Kar-wai’s Streaming Experiment Falls Short

‘Blossoms Shanghai’ (2023), Wong Kar-wai’s foray into the world of television, has failed to live up to the high expectations that come with his illustrious filmmaking legacy. The 30-episode series, available on Filmin, explores the frenetic pace of Shanghai across several decades, following a morally ambiguous character, Ah Bao, as he navigates the city’s ever-changing business landscape. Despite the grand ambitions, the show feels more like a soap opera than a groundbreaking piece of art, with its overuse of visual effects, disjointed narrative, and loud, bombastic dialogues that lack the subtlety and emotional resonance typical of Kar-wai’s cinema. While it attempts to present a grand narrative about the evolution of Shanghai as a megalopolis, the show’s execution often falls flat, with clunky visuals and a narrative that feels bloated. The first few episodes struggle to capture the essence of Kar-wai’s signature style, with exaggerated camera work and frantic pacing that overwhelm the storyline. While the series does touch on interesting historical and cultural themes about Shanghai’s identity, its superficial treatment makes it difficult to appreciate. Despite high hopes, ‘Blossoms Shanghai’ disappoints as an artistic product and may leave viewers questioning Kar-wai’s choice to venture into television.