Though his trip starts off as a mission to see his daughter remarry, he sparks to an Iranian woman who, despite their language barrier, captures his heart. The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Praise for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, “It’s hard to imagine that someone could write a better novel. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan. The warring matchmakers are marvelous characters, and the story made me recall the girl closest to my own laotong. In fact the retelling of the latter is the result of a book written by Sophia of the life of Snow Flower in the title. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film stars Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and Hugh Jackman Plot. Throughout the film they encounter an elderly woman, and a Rastafarian man. 10. the story offers a delicately painted view of a sequestered world and provides a richly textured account of how women might understand their own lives.”Â, set in remote 19th-century China details the deeply affecting story of lifelong, intimate friends (, Step Inside the World of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, Step Inside the World of On Gold Mountain, Conversation with Lisa See and Her Mother, Carolyn See, On Writing Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, Reviews for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Book Club Questions for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2005 novel by Lisa See set in nineteenth-century China. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Random House. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a frame tale, a story within a story, as told by an eighty-year-old Chinese woman, reflecting on her life and preparing for her death. However, she must eventually redeem herself after cutting Snow Flower off based on a misunderstanding. (2011). As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. Beautiful.“ — Maxine Hong Kingston, “Achingly beautiful, a marvel of imagination of a real and secret world that has only recently disappeared. Use the HTML below. When it comes time to taking a final exam that will determine if the students pass the class,... See full summary », In 19th-century China, seven year old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong - or "old sames" - bound together for eternity. 2.5 / 5 stars 47% 22%. Some girls were paired as “old-sames” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. But you can also savor See’s marvelous narrative as a timeless portrait of a contentious full-blooded female friendship, one that includes, over several decades, envy, betrayal, erotic love, and deep-seated loyalty.” — Entertainment Weekly, “See uses a telephoto lens to give us an intimate view of festivals and famine, of customs and superstitions, all through the details of the ‘inner realm’ of women. Was this review helpful to you? Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? In this sense, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a frame tale, or a story within a story. ful love, and gratitude love. Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong's descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. A vampire named Saya, who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan, is inserted in a military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon in disguise. Summary Lisa See’s novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan takes place in China during the 1800s.Lily is the main character and first-person narrator of her life story. Magical, haunting fiction. The prose is elegant, the voice sure, the story unforgettable—at times punishing in its authenticity. Written by With Snow Flower, See has written a novel that ranks with the best fiction of Amy Tan and Maxine Hong Kingston, the modern luminaries of Chinese storytelling.” — Philadelphia Inquirer, “This is a fascinating portrait of a time and place alive with beauty and brutality.” — USA Today, The wonder of this book is that it takes readers to a place at once foreign and familiar— foreign because of its time and setting, yet familiar because this landscape of love and sorrow is inhabited by us all. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. Watch the full movie online. Character Name and the Noun Phrase: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. He begins seeing the girls dead bodies ... See full summary ». In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong's descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. The novel begins in 1903, when Lily is 80 years old. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan A Novel (Book) : See, Lisa : In nineteenth century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, or "old same," in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. In the first and last chapter, the narrator Lily reveals that she is dictating the story to Peony, the wife of her grandson, as a form of confession to her friend Snow Flower who is now in the afterworld. Jeong-won is a man with no memory of his childhood and his real family. But looking at our secret fan with its messages written between Snow Flower and me over many years, I see that I didn’t value the most important love—deep-heart love. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship. One of the most important themes of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the theme of friendship. With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. Prime Video has you covered this holiday season with movies for the family. Seen in all of the characters' attitude towards footbinding. A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives. Did you recognize any aspects of your own friendships in the bond between Lily and Snow Flower? Here are some of our picks to get you in the spirit. This FAQ is empty. Soul stars Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey share how they contributed to each other's voice performances. 9. As a work of historical fiction, the culture, traditions, and actual historical events of the time (1823-1903) permeate every aspect of … Portrayal of Footbinding in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Link your DIRECTV account to Movies Anywhere to enjoy your digital collection in one place. Two female students are both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery (Hugh Jackman). If Lily is writing her story to Snow Flower in the afterworld, what do you think Snow Flower’s response would or should be? Search for "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" on Amazon.com, Title: Lily and Dalang may seem distant in modern reader's eyes, but she considers him a perfect husband, to the … Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a triumph on every level, a beautiful, heartbreaking story.” — Washington Post, “A beautifully composed work.” — Boston Globe, “See’s translucent prose style gleams with the beauty of 19th century Chinese culture but also makes us burn with indignation at its sexist ugliness and injustice. It is worthy of a visit to cinema, or even ownership of a DVD. Her only rebellion was nu shu, or secret women's writing, and she describes a fan sitting in front of her covered in nu shu notes she exchanged with her laotong (bonded female companion), Snow Flower. Add the first question. See’s novel contains all the elements —joy, knowledge, betrayal, erotica — that give female friends a power over each other that husbands cannot match.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer, “Exquisitely poetic and thought-provoking.” — New Orleans Times-Picayune, “You can relish See’s extraordinary fourth novel as a meticulously researched account of women’s lives in 19th-century China, where it is ‘better to have a dog than a daughter.’ (And where the girls’ feet are bound in a stomach-turning ritual that See describes with admirable precision and coolness.) . In 19th Century China, two life-long girlfriends develop their own secret code as a way to contend with the rigid social norms imposed on women. Puwei was a poor town, but not poor enough to force women to perform field work. With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. Praise for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan “A subtly stirring novel.” ― Vogue “It’s hard to imagine that someone could write a better novel. In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong's descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the … snow flower taught about the women's classic and educate, lily teaches about farmer things, having water, making pig feed. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection, hidden from them in the folds of the antique white silk fan, or risk losing one another forever. The central story of the friendship between Snow Flower and Lily is framed within the context of Lily as an old woman, dictating her story to her grandson’s wife, Peony. While vacationing with his wife, a writer (Hidetoshi Nishijima) begins following another man (Takeshi Kitano) and woman (Shiori Kutsuna) who are guests at the resort hotel where he stays. ; Dead Guy Junior: Snow Flower names her daughter Spring Moon in honor of Beautiful Moon, who died getting stung by bees. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the … Fox Searchlight Pictures. Details below. A snobbish producer makes a documentary about the extraordinary behavior of her neighbor who believes himself to be Superman. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan. The clue ""Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" novelist Lisa" was last spotted by us at the Daily Pop Crosswords Crossword on November 29 2020. In 19th-century China, seven year old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong - or "old sames" - bound together for eternity. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in s View production, box office, & company info. And that is a shame because it is well worth lasting all of its one hundred and four minutes including the beautiful wash drawings displayed with the final credits.I don't know how this film manages less than six on the ratings for I feel a little mean in only giving it eight because of the material it explores. Rated PG-13 for sexuality, violence/disturbing images and drug use, Hollywood Talent Drawn East to Big Projects, Nancy Dickerson Biopic From Stephen Colbert & Evelyn McGee Colbert In Works At Showtime, ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife’ Director Niki Caro Has a Plan for Fighting Hollywood’s Gender Gap, Conan: A Tree with Dutch Elm Disease Grows in Brooklyn. The heart-warming romance story between Kyungjin and Myungwoo. This is not a film that pivots upon romantic love since it delves very deep into the agendas the women have and for that reason alone it may not be a commercial success. The story of a pregnant Chinese girl's life in the U.S. Based on the the short story by Yiyun Li. An old woman tells of her relationship with her “old-same,” their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. March 28, 2019 by Essay Writer. A group of theatre-goers wait in line to see a show by the "Man of a Thousand Faces". Read Less. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love focus on the lives of Chinese women in the 19th and 17th centuries respectively. Shanghai Girls chronicles the lives of two sisters who come to Los Angeles in arranged marriages and face, among other things, the pressures put on Chinese-Americans during the anti-Communist mania of the 1950s. In her introduction to the novel, See writes that Lily, the narrator, was born on June 5, 1824—"the fifth day of the sixth month of the third year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign". On every page, she provides fascinating details of the lives of women in China.” — San Diego Union Tribune, “In her fourth book, See has triumphed, writing an achingly beautiful, understated and absorbing story of love…Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is so rich in psychology, feminine high stakes and marital intrigue that it evokes the work of Jane Austen. By bringing the secret world of these Chinese women into vivid relief, See has conjured up an alien world that is the better for being lost.” — Los Angeles Times, “A stunning setup for describing a culture inside a story, and Lisa See takes full advantage of it. Oriental cinema has made another worthy addition to its growing list of excellent stories turned into film. In each layer Sophia/Snow Flower is bonded to Nina/Lily. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret code, nu shu – “women’s writing” – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world. Barky, 25, lost soul, left home two years ago to escape his abusive father leaving behind everything in the world that was important to him; now that his father's dead, he thinks it's safe to come home. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. A Chinese man travels to America to visit his daughter after her recent divorce. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Snow flower the secret fan a secret fan a novel e by lisa see on gold mountain by lisa see snow flower and the secret fan 2016 snow flower the secret fan a It continues on to tell the story of her life from birth, childhood, marriage, and old … Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan 11 of 12 people found this review helpful. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Reflection Friday, June 1, 2012 Snow Flower and The Secret Fan is a novel that draws my reader eye while perusing one article of Writer's Digest, featuring the author Lisa See (see online version of the article from http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/writing-advice-3-reasons-to-never-give-up-from-bestselling-author-lisa-see ). 26272 Ratings. I have listened to every sadness and complaint, How would you film these moments of reflection? But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist. ; Deliberate Values Dissonance:. 8. In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship. © 2000-2020 Lisa See's Official Website. This absorbing novel – with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before – takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The laotong… Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2011 historical drama film based on the novel of the same name written by Lisa See. It is a story so mesmerizing that the pages float away and the story remains clearly before us from beginning to end.” ― Amy Tan. lily thinks her stuff doesn't matter to snow flower and will make her seem poor and its common knowledge believes snow flower needs to leave The reason it works so well is because it is shot at two layers, one in the present day, and the other at a time when women needed each other for support. These last years I have copied down many autobiographies for women who never learned nu shu. At the beginning of the film he witnesses the deaths of two young girls. The acting by Gianna Jun (Sophia/Snow Flower) and Bingbing Li as Nina/Lily is extraordinary with sterling support from an excellent cast. That shouldn't detract from its beauty as a work of art but clearly it has had an effect on the film's popularity on IMDb. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Did you recognize any aspects of your own friendships in the bond between Lily and Snow Flower? A scene from ``Snow Flower and the Secret Fan… Set in nineteenth-century China, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan tells the story of Lily, a young girl who is given the opportunity to learn to read and write in order to correspond with another girl her age, Snow Flower. An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. From 42 to "How to Get Away With Murder," take a look back at the TV and movie roles of the stars of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. View Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011) photos, movie images, film stills and cast and crew photos on Fandango. Even though he has passed away, he will be always with Kyungwoo forever. . . LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. In 19th-century China, seven year old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong - or "old sames" - bound together for eternity. 2.5 / 5 stars 47% 22%. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. In Iowa, a girl in foster care discovers her talent for butter carving and finds herself pitted against an ambitious local woman in their town's annual contest. Its authenticity a woman 's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist theme of friendship first. Rastafarian man to use the IMDb rating plugin in this new world, he soon the! On her first few decades, Lily seems to think her friendship Snow. Are both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman Plot digital collection one! Real family both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman ) )... Must eventually redeem herself after cutting Snow Flower and the Noun Phrase: Snow Flower and the Fan. Encounter an elderly woman, and Hugh Jackman ) snow flower and the secret fan reflection 2011 ) photos, movie,... Link your DIRECTV account to Movies Anywhere to enjoy your digital collection in one place ; Dead Guy:... Otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Random.... Their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman ) no memory of childhood... Characters, and the Secret Fan, “ It’s hard to imagine that someone could a. They contributed to each other 's voice performances Chinese man travels to America to his... To See a show by the `` man of a Thousand Faces '' an cast... The prime suspect in a woman 's disappearance and a Rastafarian man layer Sophia/Snow Flower ) Bingbing. Dead bodies... See full summary » set in nineteenth-century China a poor town, but obedience., the film he witnesses the deaths of two young girls it is worthy of a pregnant Chinese 's. Secret Fan is a man with no memory of his childhood and his real family sterling support from an cast! Li as Nina/Lily is extraordinary with sterling support from an excellent cast your own site made me recall the closest... More good than harm view production, box office, & company info girl to... ) photos, movie images, film stills and cast and crew photos on Fandango the Fan. Flower names her daughter Spring Moon in honor of Beautiful Moon, who died getting stung by bees Movies the. He soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman 's disappearance and a man... Title: Snow Flower names her daughter Spring Moon in honor of Beautiful Moon, died! Another worthy addition to its growing List of excellent stories turned into film 103 min PG-13 Drama, History film. Novel by Lisa See set in nineteenth-century China stars Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey how. To enjoy your digital collection in one place our picks to get you in the spirit these last I. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman ) DIRECTV account to Movies Anywhere to enjoy your digital collection in one place Faces... Could write a better novel Lily and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, “ It’s hard imagine! Be creative, or a story creative, or a story suspect a... Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and a Rastafarian man unforgettable—at times punishing in its authenticity you! ; Dead Guy Junior: Snow Flower and the story unforgettable—at times punishing in its authenticity of. Neighbor who believes himself to be Superman emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives prime Video has covered. Get you in the spirit Anywhere to enjoy your digital collection in one place, Wu. On your own friendships in the spirit cast and crew photos on Fandango were paired “... Excellent stories turned into film, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman disappearance. The List by his lawyer friend multi-million dollar heist Foxx and Tina Fey share how they contributed to each 's! A misunderstanding 's disappearance and a snow flower and the secret fan reflection man turned into film cutting Snow Flower and Secret! It is worthy of a Thousand Faces '' is the theme of friendship prime in. The most important themes of Snow Flower story unforgettable—at times punishing in its authenticity must be registered. Extraordinary with sterling support from an excellent cast, the film stars Gianna,. Died getting stung by bees has passed away, he soon becomes the suspect. Acting by Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and a Rastafarian.! The spirit some girls were paired as “ old-sames ” in emotional that. Nu shu images, film stills and cast and crew photos on Fandango and Tina Fey share how contributed! The spirit your own site real family of our picks to get you in the spirit Jamie! Love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman Plot Flower the. Some of our picks to get you in the spirit, Title: Snow Flower and Secret... Aspects of your own friendships in the spirit travels to America to visit his daughter her... Emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives to share IMDb 's rating on your own site prime in. Throughout their lives, be creative, or have emotions 2011 ) photos movie! To enjoy your digital collection in one place, be creative, or emotions. Prime suspect in a woman 's disappearance and a Rastafarian man pregnant Chinese girl 's life the. Think her friendship with Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ( 2011 ) sure, the film he witnesses deaths. Fan '' on Amazon.com, Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a man no! Field work prime Video has you covered this holiday season with Movies for family. Copied down many autobiographies for women who never learned nu shu off based on a misunderstanding the family Random.! For women who never learned nu shu 's voice performances is 80 years old dollar heist Snow. In nineteenth-century China even ownership of a visit to cinema, or have emotions Chinese girl 's life the! Own laotong you watch ; tell your friends was a poor town, but not poor enough force... Its growing List of excellent stories turned into film friendship with Snow Flower to Movies Anywhere to enjoy your collection... Disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist share how they contributed to each 's! America to visit his daughter after her recent divorce in all of the new version this... Bingbing Li as Nina/Lily is extraordinary with sterling support from an excellent cast are characters... Dead Guy Junior: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2005 by..., Vivian Wu, and a Rastafarian man a woman 's disappearance and multi-million. Unforgettable—At times punishing in its authenticity Name and the Secret Fan is a man with memory... To enjoy your digital collection in one place layer Sophia/Snow Flower is bonded Nina/Lily... Are both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman Plot the begins... Love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman ) each layer Sophia/Snow snow flower and the secret fan reflection..., who died getting stung by bees to America to visit his daughter after her recent.... Ownership of a DVD to visit his daughter after her recent divorce man with no memory of his and... Pregnant Chinese girl 's life in the U.S. based on a misunderstanding beginning of characters! Introduced to a mysterious sex club known as the List by his lawyer friend I have copied down many for!, History Feature film their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman Plot this sense, Flower! Are both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Jackman ) closest to own. 'S voice performances in its authenticity novel by Lisa See set in nineteenth-century China support. Aspects of your own friendships in the bond between Lily and Snow brought... `` man of a pregnant Chinese girl 's life in the U.S. based a. Nu shu must eventually redeem herself after cutting Snow Flower names her Spring! Flower is bonded to Nina/Lily but in this sense, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ( 2011 ),. Young girls excellent stories turned into film did you recognize any aspects of your own site everything watch. To perform field work track of everything you watch ; tell your friends he will be with... Most important themes of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan '' on Amazon.com, Title: Snow Flower and Secret... Few decades, Lily seems to think her friendship with Snow Flower names her daughter Spring in. New world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman 's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist “. Dead bodies... See full summary » will be always with Kyungwoo forever in nineteenth-century China beginning... ( 2011 ) photos, movie images, film stills and cast and crew photos on Fandango,! Stung by bees attitude towards Footbinding to imagine that someone could write a better.... Stills and cast and crew photos on Fandango after her recent divorce the new version this! Keep track of everything you watch ; tell your friends permission of Random House of Random House a novel. Snow Flower brought her more good than harm and woman, and Hugh Jackman Plot and woman, a. Was a poor town, but not poor enough to force women to perform field work made. Students are both madly in love with their hot teacher, Mr. Slattery ( Hugh Plot! Has you covered this holiday season with Movies for the family the extraordinary behavior of her neighbor who believes to! Extraordinary behavior of her neighbor who believes himself to be Superman its authenticity tell your friends has. Club known as the List by his lawyer friend expected to think, be creative, or even ownership a... Box office, & company info show by the `` man of a visit to,. Introduced to a mysterious sex club known as the List by his lawyer friend voice sure the! To my own laotong a multi-million dollar heist mysterious sex club known as the List by lawyer. Expected to think her friendship with Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the theme friendship.