Sable Cicada
Seen it?1938 | 90 min | Drama, Romance, War
Monday Morning Maybeearly ratingWhy it’s a Monday Morning Maybe
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone interested in what war does to people and readers who like to compare the book and the screen version. It puts you in the middle of the fighting, and doesn't let you forget the cost. Fans of Mrs. Miniver or Doctor Zhivago should feel right at home. Adapted from a book, so readers can compare notes.
- The mood
- Intense, warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Character-first and patient, at 1 hr 30 min. An easy one to fit in on a school night.
- What might put you off
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1938: an older pace and style.
- Not the one if you want explosions or easy laughs.
Diaochan (aka Diau Charn and Sable Cicada), one of the Four Beauties of China, is supposed to be so stunningly lovely that the moon was shamed to hide behind clouds. Despite being the only Beauty among the four who is not a real historical figure but one conjured by storytelling imagination and embellished by public fascination, her story was nonetheless incorporated by author Luo Guangzhong into his popular and influential novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Her tale is one of Machiavellian intrigue, in which she schemes with her godfather Wang Yun to restore moral order to the land, sowing discord between the corrupt Minister Dong Zhuo and his adopted son Lu Bu, a man of martial and military prowess.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 2K people sought it out in the past year
More like this
Mrs. Miniver
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed war drama that fewer people know today.
Doctor Zhivago Friday Night FlickAnother war drama, and a Friday Night Flick.
Suite Française
Saturday SpecialAnother war drama that's easy to miss.
The Exception
Weeknight WatchAnother war drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Their Finest
Sunday Safe BetAnother war drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Bu Wan-Cang
- Violet Koo Lan-Chun
- Jin Shan
- Diu Ban-Wah
- Eryi Gu
- Wei Heling
- Jie Tang
- Man-Lei Hui
- Han Lan-Gen
- Zhang Zhizhi
- Lan Chun Koo