Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Farewell My Concubine is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Video
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
This Movie Is About.
Cast & Crew.
Leslie Cheung
Cheng Dieyi / Xiao Douzi / Theme Song Performance
Zhang Fengyi
Duan Xiaolou / Xiao Shitou
Gong Li
Juxian
Lu Qi
Master Guan
Ying Da
Na Kun
Ge You
Master Yuan Shiqing
Lu Qi
Master Guan
Lei Han
Xiao Si
Yi Di
Zhang the Eunuch
Yin Zhi
Xiao Douzi (teenager)
Ma Ming-Wei
Xiao Douzi (child)
Zhao Hai-Long
Xiao Shitou (teenager)
Fei Zhenxiang
Xiao Shitou (child)
Li Dan
Xiao Laizi
Yang Yong-Chao
Xiao Laizi (child)
Huang Fei
Old Master
Jiang Wenli
Xiao Douzi's Mother
Zhi Yitong
Aoki Saburo
Li Chun
Xiao Si (teenager)
David Wu
Red Guard
Shen Huifen
Cai Feng
Huang Lei
Hooligan
Fang Zheng
Client
Sui Yong-Qing
Madam
Yang Lixin
Douzi (voice)
Lilian Lee
Screenplay / Novel
Xiaonan Pei
Editor
Chen Kaige
Director
Gu Changwei
Director of Photography
Lu Wei
Screenplay
Xu Guang-Rui
Makeup Artist
Jing Tao
Sound Recordist
Fang Qing-Shan
Makeup Artist
Chen Changmin
Costume Design
Jun-Nian Tang
Executive Producer
Hsu Feng
Executive Producer
Zhang Jinzhan
Action Director
Bai Yu
Assistant Director
Zhang Jinting
Assistant Director
Jin Ping
Assistant Director
Zhao Faquan
Cinematography
Yang Yu-He
Art Designer
Yang Zhanjia
Art Designer
Tingxiao Huo
Art Department Assistant
Nakamuka Tawishiko
Sound Recordist
Wei Junhua
Foley Artist
Shen Jianqin
Sound Engineer
Kong Jinglei
Editorial Production Assistant
Jiping Zhao
Music
Hu Bingxu
Conductor
Xianchun Zhang
Prop Designer
Kang Xiaotian
Lighting Director
Jinming Jiang
Dresser
Huang Baorong
Dresser
Song Shan-Ming
Dresser
Wang Chi-Min
Dresser
Media.
Details.
Release DateJanuary 1, 1993
Original Name霸王别姬
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 51m
Content RatingR
Budget$4,000,000
Box Office$6,400,000
Genres
Wiki.
Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 Chinese historical drama film directed by Chen Kaige, starring Leslie Cheung, Gong Li and Zhang Fengyi. Adapted for the screen by Lu Wei, based on the novel by Lilian Lee, the film is set in a politically tumultuous 20th-century China, from the early days of the Republic of China to the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. It chronicles the troubled relationships amongst two lifelong friends, the Peking opera actors Cheng Dieyi (Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang), and Xiaolou's wife Juxian (Gong).
The film's themes include confusion of identity and blurred lines between real life and the stage, portrayed by the revered opera actor Dieyi, whose unrequited love for Xiaolou persists throughout. Commentators also noted themes of political and societal disturbances in 20th-century China, which is typical of the Chinese Fifth Generation cinema.
Farewell My Concubine premiered on 1 January 1993, in Hong Kong. Upon release the film received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics, and jointly won the Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese-language film to achieve the honour. It won further accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language, and received two nominations at the 66th Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film.
A few weeks following its China release, the film was abruptly banned by the politburo unless and until major changes be made. While allowing a premiere in Beijing but forbidding release in other cities, the government objected to the representation of homosexuality, the suicide of a leading character and a description of the turmoil during the Communist period in China.The film was allowed to resume public showings in September 1993, less than a year after its original release. Upon its return the Chinese censors had made numerous cuts, removing 14 minutes. Chinese officials felt that a re-release, as opposed to maintaining a full ban, would silence an ever-growing international backlash and also help their bid to host the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2000.Farewell My Concubine is considered one of the landmark films of the Fifth Generation movement that brought Chinese film directors to world attention. In 2005, the film was selected as one of the "100 Best Films in Global History" by Time magazine.