Shadow Magic

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Shadow Magic

PG,

2001,

1h 55m,

History/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

73%

48 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Peking, 1902. The Feng Tai Photo Shop is in a frenzy of preparation for the arrival of Peking's most important opera star, Lord Tan. Liu Jinglun (Yu Xia), the chief photographer, is oblivious to the chaos as he tinkers with a broken Victrola he has found in a junk pile on his way to work. His boss, Master Ren (Peiqi Liu), chides Liu for his incessant fascination with Western novelties, which he feels have no place in traditional Chinese society.

Critics Consensus

Charmingly sweet, Shadow Magic captures the sense of wonder of audiences experiencing the world of motion pictures for the first time.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

May 18, 2001

2/4

Why not trust the subject matter instead of shaping it all to fit a formula?

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Charles Ealy

Dallas Morning News

May 17, 2001

Makes us appreciate what today's audiences take for granted: the miracle of the cinema.

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Loren King

Chicago Tribune

May 17, 2001

Gives us a glimpse of what it must have been like to be mesmerized and seduced by images that still convey magic and mystery.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 24, 2024

3.5/4

It’s depressing to note that after 120-plus years of cinema, we find ourselves having to sit through junk like Halloween Kills and Space Jam: A New Legacy. This lovely film transports us back to a pre-blockbuster time full of genuine promise.

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Betsy Bozdech

DVDJournal.com

Oct 21, 2006

3/4

A sweet, charming story based on the real-life story of the advent of moving pictures in China at the turn of the century, it's the perfect escape into another place and time.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jun 12, 2005

3/5

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Ann Hu

Director

Jared Harris

Raymond Wallace

Yu Xia

Liu Jinglun (Liu Zhonglun)

Peiqi Liu

Master Ren (Ren JingFeng)

Liping Lu

Madame Ren

Yufei Xing

Ling

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Synopsis

Peking, 1902. The Feng Tai Photo Shop is in a frenzy of preparation for the arrival of Peking's most important opera star, Lord Tan. Liu Jinglun (Yu Xia), the chief photographer, is oblivious to the chaos as he tinkers with a broken Victrola he has found in a junk pile on his way to work. His boss, Master Ren (Peiqi Liu), chides Liu for his incessant fascination with Western novelties, which he feels have no place in traditional Chinese society.

Director: Ann Hu
Producer: Ann Hu
Screenwriter: Ann Hu, Dan Huang, Bob McAndrew, Kate Raisz, Louyi Tang
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Road Movies Vierte Produktionen, Beijing Film Studio, Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, C & A Productions, Central Motion Pictures Corporation, China Film, Schulberg Productions, Post Production Playground
Rating: PG (Mild Language)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2001, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $149.3K
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround

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