Center Stage

Breaking into the Shanghai film industry in the late ‘20s as a teenager, Ruan Ling-yu swiftly became one of China’s first film goddesses. However, between destructive relationships and a merciless press, she’d take her own life at 24. Stanley Kwan’s stylish biopic combines a striking performance by Maggie Cheung as Ruan, black-and-white re-creations of the actress’s lost works, and documentary observations from peers. Tony Leung, Lawrence Ng, Carina Lau also star. 126 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Cantonese and Mandarin; Subtitles: English. In Cantonese and Mandarin with English subtitles.