The dramatic tale of Tsai Chin, one of the first Chinese actresses to break to the West. From celebrity to anonymity and back, Tsai Chin brings significant representations of Asians to mainstream-media.

The story is set in early 20th century. Country girl Cassia is sold as a maid to a Shanghai brothel, where Madam Shin considers her a no- count big foot with big breasts. But Cassia soon becomes the favorite of the triad Lord of Hong Men, Chang Lixiong - the Lord of Shanghai. Leaving a meeting with Huang Peiyu, Leader of Chinese Revolutionary League, Lord Chang is killed and Cassia is left alone and helpless. She is expelled to the countryside, where she gives birth to a daughter. After years of hardship, Cassia returns to Shanghai to scrape by with work in a local opera troupe. Under the patronage of the second generation triad Lord, Huang Peiyu, she rises to stardom in the Shanghai Opera. But when she discovers that Huang was implicated in Lord Chang's assassination, she persuades Yu Qiyang - who had served as attendant to both lords - to plot the murder of Huang and succeed him.

In 1937 China, during the second Sino-Japanese war, a mortician, John (Christian Bale) arrives at a Catholic church in Nanjing to prepare a priest for burial. Upon arrival he finds himself the lone adult among a group of convent girl students and prostitutes from a nearby brothel. When he finds himself in the unwanted position of protector of both groups from the horrors of the invading Japanese army, he discovers the meaning of sacrifice and honor. Written by msmith5484