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, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing
Cheng Dieyi / Xiao Douzi / Theme Song Performance
Zhang Fengyi
Duan Xiaolou / Xiao Shitou
Gong Li
Juxian
Lü Qi
Master Guan
Ying Da
Manager
Ge You
Master Yuan Shiqing
Lei Han
Xiao Si
Yi Di
Zhang the Eunuch
Yin Zhi
Teenage Douzi
Ma Mingwei
Young Douzi
Zhao Hailong
Teenage Shitou
Fei Zhenxiang
Young Shitou
Yang Yong Chao
Young Xiao Laizi
Huang Fei
Old Master
Jiang Wenli
Douzi's Mother
Zhi Yitong
Aoki Saburo
Li Chun
Teenage Xiao Si
David Wu
Red Guard
Shen Huifen
Cai Feng
Huang Lei
Little Hooligan
Fang Zheng
Client
Sui Yongqing
Madam
Yang Lixin
Douzi (voice)
Gu Changwei
Director of Photography
Chen Kaige
Director
Lilian Lee Bik-Wah
Screenplay / Novel
Pei Xiaonan
Editor
Lu Wei
Screenplay
Tang Jun Nian
Executive Producer
Hsu Feng
Executive Producer
Bai Yu
Assistant Director
Zhang Jinzhan
Action Director
Jin Ping
Assistant Director
Jonathan Lee
Original Music Composer / Songs / Music
Zhao Jiping
Original Music Composer
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
Hu Bingxu
Conductor
Shen Jianqin
Sound Engineer
Xianchun Zhang
Prop Designer
Kang Xiaotian
Lighting Director
Kong Jinlei
Editorial Production Assistant
Song Shan-Ming
Dresser
Huang Baorong
Dresser
Wang Chi-Min
Dresser
Jinming Jiang
Dresser
Sandy Lam
Songs
Zhang Jinting
Assistant Director
Jing Tao
Sound Recordist
Chen Changmin
Costume Design
Fang Qing-Shan
Makeup Artist
Xu Guang-Rui
Makeup Artist
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
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
Wiki.
Farewell My Concubine is a 1993 Chinese-Hong Kong epic 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 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 between 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 identity confusion and blurred lines between real life and the stage, portrayed by the revered opera actor Dieyi, whose unrequited love for Xiaolou persists throughout. The film also addressed themes of political and societal disturbances in 20th-century China, which is typical of 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 after its release in China, the politburo demanded changes to be made to the film due to unconventional depictions of traditional values and political decisions. While allowing a premiere in Beijing, the government objected to the representation of homosexuality, the suicide of a leading character, and a depiction of the turmoil of the 1960s.
The film was approved for further exhibition in September 1993, less than a year after its original release. Upon its re-release it became clear 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.