Shanghai Triad

Shanghai Triad
Traditional Chinese外婆
Simplified Chinese外婆
Literal meaningRow, Row, Row to Grandma's Bridge
Hanyu PinyinYáo a Yáo, Yáo Dào Wàipó Qiáo
Directed byZhang Yimou
Written byBi Feiyu
Based onRules of a Clan
by Li Xiao
Produced byYves Marmion
Jean-Louis Piel
Wu Yigong
Starring
CinematographyLü Yue
Edited byDu Yuan
Music byZhang Guangtian
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics (U.S.)
Release dates
  • May 1995 (1995-05) (Cannes)
  • 22 December 1995 (1995-12-22) (U.S.)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Box office$2,086,101 (USA)

Shanghai Triad is a 1995 Chinese crime-drama film, directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li. The script is written by Bi Feiyu based on Li Xiao's 1994 novel Rules of a Clan (门规). The film is set in the criminal underworld of 1930s Shanghai, Republic of China and spans seven days. Shanghai Triad's Chinese title reads "Row, row, row to Grandma Bridge", refers to a well known traditional Chinese lullaby.

The film was the seventh collaboration between director Zhang Yimou and actress Gong Li, ending a successful partnership that had begun with Zhang's debut, Red Sorghum (1987), and had evolved into a romantic relationship as well. With the wrapping of filming for Shanghai Triad the two agreed to end their relationship both professionally and personally. Zhang and Gong would not work together again until 2006's Curse of the Golden Flower.