Set in 1920’s China, Farewell My Concubine opens with a boy named Douzi abandoned by his prostitute mother at a Peking Opera school. There, he receives training that borders on abuse. Douzi is taught to play the female parts. While some of the boys reject Douzi given his status as the son of a prostitute, Shitou, who plays the male parts, becomes Douzi’s best friend. They help each other through the rigorous training, and the brutal punishments that come after making a mistake.
Having established the backstory, the film jumps ahead more than a decade later. Douzi and Shitou have become full-fledged opera stars. They have taken on more respectable names. Douzi becomes Chen Dieyi (Leslie Cheung), while Shitou becomes Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi). Their production of Farewell My Concubine, a cherished Chinese opera about a loyal concubine who chooses not to abandon her king even as he faces military defeat. Instead, she sings for him one last time before cutting her throat with his sword, draws crowds.
Despite their success, problems are brewing backstage with the arrival of the beautiful prostitute Juxian (Gong Li), who steals Shitou’s heart and the two decide to marry. The three of them than find their lives irrevocably changed by several major events in China’s history—the invasion of Manchuria, the end of WWII, the fall of the nationalist government, and later the Mao Zedong led communist revolution.
With a runtime of nearly three hours, Farewell My Concubine covers a lot of ground. Nonetheless, director Chen Kaige delivers a relatable story, centering on an unconventional romance that evolves with the passage of time. As the world around them changes, Douzi, Dieyi, and Juxian must reevaluate their lives, and their relationship.
Released in 1993, Farewell My Concubine received the prestigious Palme d’Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Chinese film to receive the honor. A truly beautiful looking film, it also boasts excellent acting from the three leads. Leslie Cheung impresses with a series of facial expressions that effectively express a gamut of emotions. Zang Fengyi exudes a quiet confidence that’s perfect for the character. Gong Li shines as a prostitute yearning for a normal life.
The excellent production values, sets and costumes transport you back to pivotal moments in Chinese history, allowing you to get lost in the realism of it all. Farewell My Concubine ranks as perhaps the greatest Chinese film ever made.
Criterion’s 4K digital restoration of the original director’s cut looks outstanding. The image is rich and vibrant with color throughout. Film grain is realistic, while contrast, depth and color separation are consistent throughout.
The 5.1 DTS-HD audio track is wonderful throughout. Dialogue is clean, clear and concise throughout. Atmospherics are well rendered.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available on the included Blu-ray of the film:
- The Making of Farewell My Concubine: An archival piece featuring interviews with members of the cast and crew and some raw footage of the filming.
- Chen Kaige and Charlie Rose: In this 1993 episode of Charlie Rose, director Kaige Chen discusses the story of Farewell My Concubine, some of its themes and more.
- Michael Berry and Janet Yang: In this newly recorded conversation, film professor Michael Berry and film producer Janet Yang discuss both the novel and film versions of Farewell My Concubine.
- Trailer
- Leaflet: Featuring an essay by scholar and author Pauline Chen.
