Farewell My Concubine

Synopsis

"Farewell My Concubine" is a 1993 epic art film directed by Chen Kaige, starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li. Using Peking Opera as its medium, the film tells the story of the love, hate, and complex relationship between two performers, Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou, spanning over half a century. With a Douban rating of 9.6, it is the only Chinese-language film to have ever won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is widely regarded as a masterpiece in the history of Chinese cinema.

Overview

Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige, with a screenplay by Lu Wei and Lilian Lee, adapted from Lilian Lee's novel of the same name. Starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li, with supporting roles by Ge You and Ying Da, the film has a runtime of 171 minutes. It holds a Douban rating of 9.6, ranking first on the Douban Movie Top 250 list. It is the only Chinese-language film to date to have won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival and is globally recognized by film critics as a pinnacle of Chinese cinema.

Using Peking Opera as its medium, the film portrays the joys and sorrows spanning half a century of two opera performers, Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou, from the Republican era through the Cultural Revolution, reflecting the profound transformations of Chinese society and the deep dilemmas of human nature. Cheng Dieyi, obsessed with the role of Concubine Yu throughout his life, blurs the line between stage and reality. The line "If one is not obsessed, one cannot become a master" has become one of the most heartbreaking soliloquies in Chinese film history.

Plot

The story begins in 1924 in Beiping. Young Douzi (Cheng Dieyi) is sent to an opera troupe to train after his mother cuts off his extra sixth finger. In the troupe, he forms a deep bond with his senior brother, Shitou (Duan Xiaolou). Due to his natural beauty, Douzi is assigned to learn female roles. During training, he repeatedly misrecites the line "I am by nature a girl, not a boy," until his senior brother forces him to correct it by stirring a pipe in his mouth—a scene symbolizing the forced transformation of Cheng Dieyi's gender identity.

As adults, they become a renowned Peking Opera duo in the capital, with Cheng Dieyi playing Concubine Yu and Duan Xiaolou playing Xiang Yu. Their performance of Farewell My Concubine captivates the nation. However, Duan Xiaolou's marriage to the courtesan Juxian (played by Gong Li) leaves Cheng Dieyi feeling deeply betrayed. Cheng Dieyi's feelings for Duan Xiaolou transcend brotherhood; he fully lives as Concubine Yu, embodying the phrase "If one is not obsessed, one cannot become a master."

The subsequent plot spans historical periods including the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Chinese Civil War, the founding of New China, and the Cultural Revolution. Each era brings immense upheaval to the trio's fates. During the Cultural Revolution, Duan Xiaolou is forced to denounce Cheng Dieyi in a struggle session, and Juxian hangs herself amidst the turmoil. The torrent of history crushes all beauty and dignity.

In the end, the long-suffering Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou perform Farewell My Concubine together one last time on an empty stage. In the scene where Concubine Yu takes her own life, Cheng Dieyi ends his life with a real sword—finally becoming the true Concubine Yu.

Cast

Cultural Impact

Farewell My Concubine is a significant milestone in Chinese cinema's journey onto the world stage. After winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1993, the international film community gained a new appreciation for Chinese cinema. The film also won numerous international awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the BAFTA Award, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Leslie Cheung's performance in the film is widely regarded as one of the greatest in Chinese film history. He masterfully portrayed Cheng Dieyi's infatuation, obsession, and tragedy, with every glance and movement filled with breathtaking beauty and sorrow. Sadly, Leslie Cheung himself passed away in 2003, adding to the tragic aura of the role.

The film's portrayal of Chinese Peking Opera also holds significant cultural preservation value. The numerous Peking Opera performance scenes, from makeup and training to formal performances, are meticulously crafted, leaving a precious visual record for future generations.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/1291546/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/霸王别姬
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/霸王别姬_(电影)