Watch Empire of Silver

Empire of Silver is a Chinese historical drama film that was released in 2009. Directed by Christina Yao, the movie is based on a novel titled "The Silver Spoon, Memoir of a Boyhood in Japan and America," by Sterling Seagrave. The movie explores the decline of a prominent banking family in China during the early 20th century. The protagonist of the story is Third Master, played by Aaron Kwok, who is the heir to the family's banking empire. The story takes place during the early 1900s when China was going through a transitional period.

Third Master is a conflicted character, torn between his love for his family and his desire to make changes in their long-standing traditions. The plot revolves around his struggles to fight against the archaic systems of the family business, such as the opium trade, which is portrayed as a major source of the family's wealth.

The story is set in Beijing and revolves around Third Master's dealing with his unscrupulous father, played by Tielin Zhang, who engages in immoral practices such as bribery and extortion in order to maintain the family's business. Third Master's father is a firm believer in the family's philosophy of making money at any cost, while Third Master has a more modern and humanitarian outlook on life.

As the story progresses, we see Third Master's challenges in reconciling his modern values with the traditional ways of his family. His ideals clash with those of his father, who is convinced that their family's success requires them to remain faithful to their past traditions.

One of the main themes explored in the movie is the impact of Western influence on China during the early 1900s. The arrival of new technologies, ideas, and philosophies created a clash of cultures that led to the collapse of the traditional Chinese way of life.

Besides the story's focus on Third Master, the movie also features an interesting subplot involving his brother Genbao, played by Lei Hao, who struggles with mental illness. The family's shame at having a mentally ill member carries on, and Genbao is relegated to the sidelines of the family business.

The cinematography in Empire of Silver is beautiful, as the movie captures the essence of the time period. The sets, costumes, and props are all exquisite and transport the viewer back to the early 1900s.

The soundtrack of the movie also deserves mention, as it is a beautiful mix of both classical and modern Chinese music.

Overall, Empire of Silver is a well-crafted movie that offers an insight into the changing times in China during the early 1900s. The film has a poignant message about the importance of balancing tradition and modernity while standing up for one's beliefs. With great acting and a moving storyline, this movie comes highly recommend for fans of Chinese historical dramas.