''The Palace'' also known as ''Palace: Lock Sinensis'' is a 2013 Chinese historical

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

. This film was directed by

Pan Anzi Pan Anzi (born 1977 in Nanjing, Jiangsu) is a Chinese film director. Filmography *''Scheme with Me'' (2012) *''The Palace (2013 film), The Palace'' (2013) *''Crazy New Year's Eve'' (2015) *''For a Few Bullets'' (2016) References External link ...

and written by

Yu Zheng Yu Zheng (; born 28 February 1978) is a Chinese screenwriter and producer who is noted for ''Palace'', which earned him a Best Screenwriter award at the 16th Asian Television Awards. Biography Early life Yu was born and raised in Haining, Zheji ...

, and starring

Zhou Dongyu Zhou Dongyu () is a Chinese actress, who gained recognition after appearing in Zhang Yimou's film '' Under the Hawthorn Tree''. She was also chosen by '' Southern Metropolis Daily'' as one of the " Four Dan actresses of the post-90s Generation" ...

Chen Xiao Chen Xiao (, born 5 July 1987) is a Chinese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in ''Swordsman'' (2013), '' Legend of Lu Zhen'' (2013), ''The Romance of the Condor Heroes'' (2014), ''Who Sleeps My Bro'' (2015), '' Nothing Gold Can S ...

and

Zhao Liying Zhao Liying (, born 16 October 1987), also known as Zanilia Zhao, is a Chinese actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in television series ''Legend of Lu Zhen'' (2013), ''Boss & Me'' (2014), ''The Journey of Flower'' (2015), ''The My ...

Plot

During the reign of the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to 1 ...

, Yaojia Chenxiang entered the Forbidden Palace as a lowly servant. Chenxiang learned the ways of surviving in the palace and became close friends with another servant named Liuli and Chunshou, a eunuch. She also meets

Yinxiang Yinxiang may refer to: *Yinxiang, Prince Yi (胤祥; 1686 — 1730), a prince of the Qing dynasty * ''Yinxiang'' (magazine), a 1971–1998 Taiwanese film journal *Yinxiang Group The Yinxiang Group (银翔) is an industrial company based in Chon ...

, a prince raised by Consort De and is friends with the fourth prince Yinzhen. They meet by chance, but she never reveals her identity to him. He later searches for this mystery girl and Liuli claims that she was the mystery girl. Liuli betrays Chenxiang to become the di fujin (official wife) of Yinxiang. Chenxiang is heartbroken but becomes Liuli's servant in order to protect Chunshou, who was tortured by Liuli. As Liuli's servant, Chenxiang is humiliated and forced to only look at Yinxiang from a distance. One night, she enters Liuli's bedchamber only to find out that she carries an affair with

Yuntang Yuntang (17 October 1683 – 22 September 1726), born Yintang, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the ninth son of the Kangxi Emperor and an ally of his eighth brother Yunsi, who was the main rival to their fourth brother Yinzhen i ...

, another prince. Liuli is mad at Chenxiang, and increases her punishments. Yinxiang grows suspicious of Liuli, and asks her who the mystery girl really was. Liuli refused to tell him, and ran away from the palace only to be shot with arrows. Yinxiang, now blind, eventually reunites with Chenxiang.

Cast

Main cast

as Chenxiang **

Zhang Zifeng Zhang Zifeng (born 27 August 2001), also known as Wendy Zhang, is a Chinese actress currently attending Beijing Film Academy. She is widely considered one of the best young actors in China today. In 2012 she won Best Newcomer at the 31st Hundre ...

as Chenxiang, young. *

** Fangyao Ziyi as Yinxiang, young. *

as Liuli **

Jiang Yiyi Jiang Yiyi (, born 1 January 2001) is a Chinese actress. Career Jiang is a child actress who is known for portraying the younger counterparts of many notable characters in television and films. She made her first acting appearance in the 2007 dr ...

as Liuli, young.

Other cast

* Lu Yi as

Yongzheng Emperor , regnal name = , posthumous name = Emperor Jingtian Changyun Jianzhong Biaozhen Wenwu Yingming Kuanren Xinyi Ruisheng Daxiao Zhicheng Xian()Manchu: Temgetulehe hūwangdi () , temple name = Shizong()Manchu: Šidzung () , house = Aisin Gioro ...

. *

Zhu Zixiao ''Meteor Shower'' () is a 2009 Chinese television series starring Hans Zhang, Yu Haoming, Vision Wei and Zhu Zixiao. It premiered on Hunan TV on August 8, 2009. Due to the success and popularity of Japanese manga ''Hana Yori Dango'' and its fran ...

. *

Winston Chao Winston Chao Wen-hsuan (born 9 June 1960) is a Taiwanese actor. He came to international attention for his performance in the 1993 film ''The Wedding Banquet'' and ''Kabali''. He is also known for his roles in ''Red Rose White Rose'' and ''Eat D ...

. *

Vivian Wu Vivian Wu ( Wu Junmei; ; born February 5, 1967) is a Chinese-American actress.Chen Nan ''China Daily'', 27 April 2007. Her big break came in 1987, appearing in the biographical film '' The Last Emperor''. She later went to starring in films '' ...

Empress Xiaogongren Empress Xiaogongren (28 April 1660 – 25 June 1723), of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Uya clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the consort of Xuanye, the Kangxi Emperor and mother of Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor. She was honoured as Emp ...

. *

Bao Bei'er Bao Bei'er (; born 3 May 1984) is a Chinese actor. He is noted for his roles as Lu Maoku and Zhang Kai in the films ''Welcome to Shama Town'' and '' So Young'' respectively. Early life Bao was born and raised in Harbin, Heilongjiang, his paren ...

as Chunshou * Wang Shuang as Concubine Cheng

Guest

* Jess Zhang as Concubine Xuan. *

Annie Yi Wu Chin-yi (; born March 4, 1968), better known as Annie Yi () or Annie Shizuka Inoh ( ja, 伊能静, Inō Shizuka), is a Taiwanese singer, actress, and writer. Early life and education Wu Chin-yi () was born on March 4, 1968 in Taipei, Taiwan ...

Empress Xiaojingxian Empress Xiaojingxian (28 June 1681 – 29 October 1731) of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Ula Nara clan, was the wife and empress consort of Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor. She was Empress consort of Qing from 1723 until her death in 1731. She ...

. *

Eva Huang Huang Shengyi (, born February 11, 1983), also known as Eva Huang, is a Chinese actress and singer. Early life and education Huang was born and raised in Shanghai. Her father was educated in the United States and lived there in the early 1990s, wh ...

as Concubine Min. * Zhang Yameng as Concubine Hui. *

Lam Chi-chung Lam Chi-chung (; born 16 August 1976) is a Hong Kong actor. Partial filmography * ''The Sexy Guys'' (2019) * ''The Incredible Monk 3'' (2019) * ''Monkey King - The Volcano'' (2019) * ''Flirting Scholar from the Future'' (2019) * ''A Home with a ...

Yunreng Yunreng (6 June 1674 – 27 January 1725), born Yinreng, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the second among the Kangxi Emperor's sons to survive into adulthood and was designated as Crown Prince for two terms between 1675 and ...

. *

Kingdom Yuen Kingdom Yuen King-dan (苑瓊丹; born 11 September 1963) is a Hong Kong actress with a long history working with TVB. Life and career Kingdom was born in Hong Kong, her father was an ivory carver. She started her acting career with HK ATV during ...

as Mammy. *

Dicky Cheung Dicky Cheung Wai-kin (; born 8 February 1965) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. Early childhood Cheung grew up with a physically abusive father. His parents divorced when Cheung was 14. Cheung was educated in St Francis Xavier's College in Ho ...

as The eunuch. * Bai Shan as Qiuniang.

Release

The film had its premiere at the 16th

Shanghai International Film Festival The Shanghai International Film Festival (, French: ''Festival international du film de Shanghai''), abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia. "China's biggest film festival" according to the Hollywood Reporter. Nex ...

Box office

The film grossed ￥21 million by the end of its first day of general release and grossed ￥ 48 million on its first weekend.

Critical response

The film received negative reviews. It was listed on

Sohu Sohu, Inc. () is a Chinese Internet company headquartered in the Sohu Internet Plaza in Haidian District, Beijing. Sohu and its subsidiaries offer advertising, a search engine (Sogou.com), on-line multiplayer gaming (ChangYou.com) and other ser ...

's 2013 Top Ten Bad Film.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Palace, The (2013 film) 2013 films Films set in the 17th century Chinese historical romance films 2010s historical romance films Films directed by Pan Anzi Works by Yu Zheng 2010s Mandarin-language films