After a long wait of two years, there’s finally news on Wong Kar Wai’s “Blossoms,” at least on the distribution front. The Criterion Channel will premiere “Blossoms Shanghai” on November 24, marking the first North American release of the filmmaker’s 30-episode series. The trailer can be seen below.
Judging by past reporting, “Blossoms” is getting a different color grade for the international release. Cinematographer Peter Pau told a Chinese outlet that they were not happy with the first run of the series in China, which “didn’t capture the optimal visual tone” Wong and company aimed for. He believes the international version of the series will “have better color grading and correction.”
“Blossoms” is an adaptation of Jin Yuchen’s novel of the same name which follows the lives of Shanghai residents from the end of China’s Cultural Revolution, in the early ‘60s, through the end of the 20th century.
Wong, who oversaw the show, directed 19 of the 30 episodes. The series started airing in December 2023 in China and consisted of around 25 hours of television.
When it was announced seven years ago, “Blossoms” was supposed to be Wong’s next film, but it then morphed into a TV series. It’s received positive reviews in China and, after an initially slow start, became an immense cultural success in the country. Some of the filming locations in Shanghai have even become tourist attractions.
With that said, it’s been 12 years since Wong’s last feature, the Wuxai action epic “The Grandmaster,” starring Ziyi Zhang. Much like 2007’s “Blueberry Nights,” it garnered mixed reviews upon release. However, it was reported in 2024 that Wong is currently working on his next film, which will be distributed by Yves Saint Laurent.
Wong gained worldwide acclaim in the ‘90s and ‘00s with such films as “Chungking Express,” “Fallen Angels,” “Happy Together,” and “In the Mood For Love.”