When actors who don't speak English use interpreters, things can definitely get lost in translation. Take, for instance, the always feisty Gong Li, who had just trekked back to the United States to promote her new film, "Curse of the Golden Flower," after having spent a good chunk of the past two years in the United States filming the Hollywood features "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Miami Vice." I asked Li whether it was a relief to film in her homeland after enduring the now legendary six-month "Vice" shoot under director Michael Mann.

Li laughs. She obviously knows enough English to understand my attempt to get a juicy quote on the always difficult Mann (is Jamie Foxx around?). She then gives a trademark roll of her eyes and provides an answer with a wicked smile. Her longtime translator then provided the following response: "Yes, going back to film 'Curse of the Golden Flower,' we did it very smoothly and efficiently so it was a very good experience and we were very happy with it."

Yep, something was definitely lost along the way.

More importantly, "Flower" is a landmark film for Li because it reunites her with "Hero" director Zhang Yimou. The two former lovers arguably made each other's careers in the early '90s collaborating on a number of internationally renowned films including "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Shanghai Triad." And after a breakup that was constantly speculated about in the Hong Kong press, each moved on to independent success. So, years later, there is something charming about seeing the two sitting next to each other, joking in Chinese with each other as their respective interpreter speaks. But don't think the production was without its own drama. Li's emotionally charged role as a Tang Dynasty empress trying to extricate herself from her controlling emperor (Chow Yun-Fat) was anything but smooth sailing.

"For me the process was kind of like being in a bullfight where they stick the bull and keep taunting and exciting the bull until he's just in a frenzy and ready to fight," Li says. "It was like that every day. I'd get all excited and the director, of course, was the bullfighter and I was the bull, to get me really charged up to perform in the play and then after we'd finish it, I'd get off work and go home and have a nice sleep and the next day get up and start the whole process over again."

And as Yimou himself can attest, one thing needs no translation -- Ms. Li is one bull that is rarely tamed.

"Curse of the Golden Flower" opens in limited release Dec. 14.