Project Detail

The Emperor's Wife

Synopsis

In a distant land the law dictates that the Emperor must take a new wife if his current Empress does not bear a son within seven years of marriage. On the night of their sixth wedding anniversary, the Emperor summons the Chamberlain, his loyal servant and confidant. The two men begin the covert operation to find and prepare a virgin candidate who might become the new Emperor's Wife.
 
A beautiful virgin who is sold by her mother, Sabah, is secretly transported by the Chamberlain into an isolated wing of the Imperial Palace. In this prison of fairytale rooms furnished with Imperial gifts, Sabah is tutored by the Imperial Masters. The Emperor and Chamberlain secretly keep an eye on Sabah's progress, but Sabah's violent protests nearly sabotage the entire operation. The Chamberlain, falling in love with Sabah, enters the secret wing to win her affection. Quite a sacrifice: in order to safeguard Sabah's virginity, any man entering the secret wing must become a eunuch. Also, the law claims that if the current Empress conceives a child within the next year, everyone in this secret wing must be executed.
 
The Empress discovers this conspiracy against her and the only way to save her life is playing the Emperor and the Chamberlain off against each other.

Details

Year
2004
Type of project
Features
Running time
97 mins
Format
35mm, Kodak
Director
Julien Vrebos
Producer
Spice Factory, Terras CVA
Editor
Mark Bynens
Screenwriter
Paul Ruven
Director of Photography
Tony Malematenios
Sound
Michael Lax
Composer
Maxton Beesley, Jeremy Meehan
Principal cast
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Max Beesley, Rosanna Pastorn, Leticia Dolera

Genre

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

The Emperor's Wife BV

Sumatrakade 611, 1019 PS

T +31 20 419 0404

Sales Company

First Look International

8000 Sunset Boulevard
East Penthouse
Los Angeles 90046, USA

T+1 (323) 337 1000

epstein@firstlookmedia.com

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Wrath of Gods Wrath of Gods

Director: Justin Hardy

Year: 2026

Nestled in the North Sea, between the Northern tip of Scotland and the coasts of Scandinavia, Hel is cloaked in mystery, myth and misogyny. Isolated in a place where the local community despise her, and whilst buried traumas resurface, Anna is torn between the ghosts of the past and the gods of the present. As an ill wind blows through, young girls from this fractured community begin to vanish. These missing children, her husband’s death and her own trauma become inextricably linked as Anna is haunted by unsettling flashbacks, forcing her to confront dark family secrets lurking in the shadows, before they can devour her daughter too.

Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights

Director: Emerald Fennell

Year: 2026

A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.

Chinaman Chinaman

Director: Rob Chiu

Year: 2026

In 1989, Wong, a first-generation immigrant, and his mixed-race son, Andy, face a challenging evening at their Chinese takeaway. Dealing with impatient customers and mixed-up orders adds to their frustration. Tensions rise when Wong’s eldest son, Kenny, arrives late for work. Their strained father-son relationship unfolds in front of customers. When a group of drunk, racist customers enter the takeaway tensions escalate further.