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Movie Description A French diplomat falls prey to a Chinese double agent in a chessgame of cultures that involves both the politics of east and west and of female and male.
Synopsis Beijing, 1964. French Embassy accountant René Gallimard becomes infatuated with Beijing opera singer Song Liling after watching her perform arias from Puccini's "Madama Butterfly." At their first encounter he engages her in what becomes a titillating conversation, in which Liling intriguingly challenges Gallimard's traditional western notions of gender relations. Gallimard's curiosity is now fully aroused and he attends the Chinese Opera just to see Liling again, this time, he initiates an affair which will last 18 years. As soon as Gallimard is promoted to vice consul, becoming privy to top-secret intelligence, Liling takes the opportunity to spy for the Communist regime. But what Gallimard doesn't realize is that there's a secret Liling is keeping from him.
Industry Reviews "...Irons gives] a risky, mesmerizing performance....A fascinatingly cold-blooded assessment of love..." Maslin
"...Ian Richardson shines in his scenes as the impeccable French ambassador..." Variety - Todd McCarthy (09/20/1993)
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