Chinese helmer Zhang Yimou follows Hero and The House Of Flying Daggers with Curse Of The Golden Flower, another historical yarn of "relentless elaborations". Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li star as the Emperor and Empress butting heads in the 10th century. The film got a warm reception from fans of Eastern cinema, although not quite as rapturous as for the previous two films.

The Golden Touch

In a behind-the-scenes documentary, Zhang Yimou sums up the story quoting 'old Chinese proverb': "Gold and jade outside, rot and decay inside." That's a colourful way of saying that the Tang Dynasty was hopelessly corrupt beneath lavish displays of wealth. Chow Yun Fat tries to convince us that, essentially, the emperor is quite a good bloke actually. It wasn't the character though, but the director and co-star that drew him to the project. "I like Gong Li very much," he says, sniggering like a schoolboy, "I like her very much..." Jay Chou manages to retain his composure and, quite apart from Emperor Ping, insists that his character Prince Jai is "a real man." Ouch.

Curse Of The Crown

On set Yimou reminds everyone who's really in charge, quoting 'old Chinese proverb': "The higher you go, the lonelier you are." Still, he seems to be having a good time staging a lavish battle sequence. It took 20 days apparently, and was physically gruelling for the actors. They gamely put up with the long hours, but then start moaning about the weight of their costumes (up to 40 kilos including headdresses). "I can't walk - too heavy," stutters Li. At least the lighting is kind to her; within the palace endless pillars of coloured glass are illuminated from within to convey the proper feeling of opulence.

A montage of photos showcases the very best work of the art department, backed by Shigeru Umebayashi's score. Another two featurettes put the spotlight on Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li using soundbites pulled from the behind-the-scenes investigation.

Anyone who came out of the cinema awed by the director's sumptuous, painterly style will appreciate the secrets unveiled on this disc. We're pretty sure there's an old Chinese proverb about 'seeking enlightenment' from 'comfort of sofa' that applies here.

EXTRA FEATURES

Curse Of The Golden Flower DVD is released on Monday 3rd September 2007.