Romance in the Boudoir offers a nuanced look at a troubled, melancholic woman consumed with conflicting emotions towards two men. Though clearly influenced by his brother Fei Mui's Spring in a Small Town , Romance is inimitably stylistic in its visual language and characterisation, breathing complexity into the conflict of friendship and love between a beguiling but aloof wife, her archetypal despotic husband (Shi Lei) and an old flame (Ping Fan), a selfcentred, egoistic painter who proves to be no knight in shining armour. Louis Fei is light on dramatic narrative, instead giving emphasis to style, structure, composition and light ambiance, enhanced by the smalltown charm of Macau that adds a touch of the Western screen aura. Hsia's subtle, virtuous wife marks a stark contrast to her tyrannical and distrustful husband, while her otherworldly grace casts an illuminating light on the artist's selfish and cynical ways.

The contents of the programme do not represent the views of the presenter. The presenter reserves the right to change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.