War-torn China is in turmoil. All over the country travellers and refugees compete for accommodation. Looking for a roof over his head, a young man is brave (or foolish) enough to seek shelter in a deserted ruin with an ominous reputation. While strolling around, he strays into the lush pleasure gardens of a neighboring mansion...
I liked "The enchanting shadow" well enough ; I thought it was an interesting ghost tale that led to some unexpected places. (Well, at least the places were unexpected to me, a European. It is possible that someone more familiar with Chinese culture might have recognized well-worn tropes or even clichés.) On the other hand I can't say that the movie actually scared me.
I try to avoid too many spoilers, so I'll just say that our protagonist meets not with one but with two ghosts. One of the ghosts is a magnificently adorned young woman of such beauty and charm that many, many men would queue up in order to be led astray by her. Much of the movie's emotional impact derives from the contrast between the palatial mansion and the dilapidated, overgrown wilderness it has turned into. Whether we're rich, civilized, erudite or not, time and oblivion will get the better of all of us...
Comes with charming sets, props and costumes. By way of lagniappe there's even a likeable poem about mandarin ducks thrown in.
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