In tenth-century China, during the late Tang period, the imperial family gathers for the Chrysanthemum Festival. On the surface all is splendour, but Emperor Ping is secretly having the Empress dosed with poison, the Empress is having an affair with her stepson the Crown Prince, and she is planning an armed uprising with the help of her loyal son, Prince Jai. As the festival nears, every secret begins to surface. Zhang Yimou's palace epic is loosely adapted from Cao Yu's classic play Thunderstorm and is famous for its overwhelming use of gold and colour, from the costumes to the sea of chrysanthemums that fills the palace courtyard. It was among the most expensive Chinese films ever made at the time and earned an Academy Award nomination for its costume design. Gong Li and Chow Yun-fat lead a tragic story of power and betrayal.
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