American audiences will soon be able to watch Wong Kar Wai’s Blossoms Shanghai. This marks the celebrated director’s debut into television, and it’s set to air on the Criterion Channel following its huge success in China earlier in 2023. According to a recent press release, the series dominated television ratings throughout its season and achieved the highest streaming numbers across the country.

Based on the 2013 novel Blossoms by Jin Yucheng, the narrative charts the rise of Ah Bao, a self-made millionaire dubbed “the Jay Gatsby of Shanghai.” This occurs amidst the economic surge subsequent to the launch of the Shanghai stock exchange. Criterion describes the series: “It features prominent Chinese actor Hu Ge as Bao, embodying the spirit and daring that characterized the 1990s. While In The Mood For Love celebrates the Shanghainese community in Hong Kong, Blossoms Shanghai represents Wong Kar Wai’s inaugural storytelling venture about his place of birth during a particularly fascinating period in its recent history.”

Wong expressed his appreciation for his “prolonged partnership with Criterion,” which previously released a comprehensive “World of Wong Kar Wai” collection in 2021. He added, “The series vividly captures the dynamic essence of Shanghai in the nineties and uncovers universal truths about human desires and fate. We aim for the series to offer insights into this crucial period of China’s transformation.”

For those interested in delving into Wong’s earlier works without spending $160 on the box set, his iconic movie In The Mood For Love is making a comeback in theaters to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The re-release kicks off on June 27 in New York, with additional showings across the country throughout the summer.