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Actors: Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Gong Li
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Farewell My Concubine |
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In 1977, two old veterans of the classic Beijing Opera are reunited after long inactivity and estrangement. The story ranges over their entire careers, going back to the 1924 warlord era when they were both child apprentices under a brutal, abusive teacher. Douzi (Cheung), the girlish son of a prostitute, joins the school after his mother chops off the extra sixth finger that would have made him unsuitable. A slightly older, mischievous boy named Shitou (Zhang) looks out for him. Eventually, the two become professional (and deeply emotional) partners who specialize in the roles of the Emperor Chu and his favorite concubine from the classic opera "Farewell My Concubine." By 1937 when war with Japan is imminent, Douzi (now going by the professional name of Chieng Dieyi) has a wealthy patron, while Shitou (aka Xiaolou Duan) marries a beautiful and headstrong prostitute (Li). These outside relationships put a severe strain on their professional team, and further large developments -- the Japanese occupation, the Nationalist uprising in 1945, the Communist revolution in 1949, and the devastating Cultural Revolution of 1966-- lead the characters into lies, betrayals, trials, and deaths. This gorgeous, crushing, magnificently written (based on the novel by Lillian Lee) and acted epic was released in 157 minutes in the U.S. but its original Chinese print is 171 minutes long. For once the astonishing Gong Li is out-acted by a man: Leslie Cheung in the title role.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Farewell My Concubine |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
War impact on civilians/veterans
Yes
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- actor
Abuse on the job story?
Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Chinese
Culture of surrounding area:
- Chinese
Kind of conflict:
- war (general)
- war, WW II
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- actor
Age:
- long lived adults
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- deluded
- emotionally unstable
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
Unclothed?
- Chest
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Chinese
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
Unclothed?
- chest
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Chinese
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
Setting
Asia/Pacific/Middle East
Yes
Asian country:
- China
City?
Yes
City:
- dangerous
Misc setting
- fort/military installation
- theater
- bar
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- actual description of sex
- seeing nude female butt
- seeing nude male butt
- sex under blankets
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- Chinese
Subtitles?
- Yes
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing and dancing
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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