Hollywood's Asian Romance

Gong Li is a toughie. The severe planes of her face, the military erectness of her posture, the snarl she puts in her voice, all give an irresistible insolence to China's first international star actress. From the time of her early films like Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern, which she made for her directing mentor (and then-lover) Zhang Yimou, she has incarnated the kind of woman you wouldn't dare mess with, yet would love to try.

Now she has found a role that fits her like the clingiest cheongsam: the proud, vindictive Hatsumomo, rival...