Joker is a computer programmer working on a 3-D adventure game starring a virtual idol. Stuck for inspiration, he ends up finding it in Ling, a bartender at a dance club. While in a drug-induced stupor, Joker imagines Ling to be the perfect image of his virtual girl. He's immediately smitten, but more important, he now has a model for his virtual heroine: Princess D.
Direction
Sylvia Chang's sensitive touch balances Alan Yuen's visual excess.
Cinematography
Neon-soaked club scenes that feel like falling into a screensaver.
Acting
Angelica Lee's dual presence — real woman and imagined icon — is haunting.
Director
Alan Yuen Kam-Lun
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Princess D arrived at peak Hong Kong cyber-romance era, when the internet still felt like dangerous magic. Daniel Wu was fresh off his debut, already showing that specific wounded masculinity he'd perfect in later roles.
The film's 3D game graphics are deliberately dated now, which accidentally strengthens the theme: all our digital dreams age badly, but the loneliness behind them doesn't.