Ming Hsu

Shanghai, the 1880s, four elegant brothels (flower houses): each has an auntie (the madam), a courtesan in her prime, older servants, and maturing girls in training (imdb)

Two friends who haven't seen each other for thirteen years reunite. One is a successful concert pianist just back from a European tour and the other has just started a new business.

Based on the director's adolescent memories and focusing on one central male protagonist, an idealistic student who refuses to compromise his moral standards, looks at growing up in Taiwan during the 1960's and the problems of military dictatorship, unemployment and immigration from mainland China.