Farewell My Concubine [Ba wang bie ji] ***** (1993, Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li) – Classic Movie Review 6386

Director Chen Kaige’s magnificent 1993 epic romantic music drama is the co-winner of the 1993 Palme d’Or and winner of the International Critics’ FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It follows the changing fortunes and intense relationship between two stars of the Peking Opera, stage brothers, as 50 years of social and political turmoil rage around them.

Farewell My Concubine was nominated for Best Cinematography (Changwei Gu) and Best Foreign Language Film (Hong Kong) at the Oscars but failed to win either. It was luckier at the Golden Globes, where it won Best Foreign Language Film, and the Baftas, where it won Best Film not in the English Language.

It is the passionate story of the two life-long male friends and the woman who comes between them. In 1925 Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) is given up by his prostitute mother to the Peking Opera company. There his life is controlled by unrelenting brutality and he meets the self-reliant Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi), who becomes his protector. Pushed into female roles, Dieyi relinquishes his sexual identity and forms an enduring love for Xialolou. But, when the latter marries, Dieyi is consumed with jealous rage.

In telling his human story against a vast historical canvas, Kaige tackles nothing less than the political and cultural history of China during the 20th century, the causes of the mass barbarism of the Cultural Revolution, the relationship between art and life, and the relationship between love and sexuality. It is a monumental movie, a rare and brilliant achievement.

The screenplay by Lillian Lee [aka Pik Wah Lee] and Wei Lu is based on the novel by Lillian Lee.

Also in the cast are Lu Oi, Ying Da, Ge You, Li Chun, Lei Han, Tong Di, Fei Yang, Yin Zhi and Zhao Hailong.

It is shot by Gu Changwei, produced by Hsu Feng, scored by Zhao Jiping and designed by Yang Yuhe.

The original version runs 171 minutes but the UK theatrical release version cut to 155 minutes.

It is filmed in Mandarin, with English sub-titles.

Jackie Chan had childhood experience of training in the Peking Opera but rejected the role of Duan Xiaolou as the film deals with homosexual themes.

It tied for the 1993 Cannes Palme d’Or with The Piano (1993).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6386

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