Center Stage

Stanley Kwan’s rich and unconventional biopic of the tragic 1930s Chinese film star, Ruan Lingyu, starring Maggie Cheung.

Ruan Lingyu was a major star in prewar Chinese cinema before she took her own life at the age of just 24 following vicious attacks by the tabloids. This beautiful biopic combines a spellbinding performance from Maggie Cheung with documentary footage and clips from her films. The result is a fitting tribute to Ruan which also highlights the difficulties faced by women in cinema, past and present.