The lavish and opulent film tells of an imperial Chinese family rapidly losing internal strength due to a power struggle between the emperor (martial arts superstar Chow Yun-Fat), the empress (Yimou mainstay Gong Li), and the couple's three sons. The family members' constant need to vie with one another for control and authority ultimately tears the nepotistic structure to pieces.
The lavish and opulent film tells of an imperial Chinese family rapidly losing internal strength due to a power struggle between the emperor (martial arts superstar Chow Yun-Fat), the empress (Yimou mainstay Gong Li), and the couple's three sons. The family members' constant need to vie with one another for control and authority ultimately tears the nepotistic structure to pieces.
