Farewell My Concubine
Introduction/Movie Synopsis
Farewell My Concubine (1993) is the story of two men, Beijing Opera actors Douzi (stage name Cheng Deiyi) and Shitou (stage name Duan Xiaolou). Starting with the reunion of the two actors after 10 years separation, the movie follows their lives from childhood (when they first met), to old age. Set against the turbulent backdrop of 20th century China, the movie spans the years from the Warlord era (around the 1920s), through the Japanese colonial years and the turbulent years between the end of WWII and the rise of the Peoples Republic of China, on through the years of Mao Zedong's rule (including the Cultural Revolution) and on to the late 1970s. The movie ends where it begins- with Douzi, Shitou and the opera.
Background - The Beijing Opera
The movie is based around the Beijing opera Farewell My Concubine. This opera is set at the start of the Han Dynasty, over 2000 years ago. The concubine, Consort Yu, deeply loved the King of Chu, Xiang Yu. When the Han forces prove victorious and the King is abandoned by his men, she commits suicide (out of loyalty) rather than allow herself to be captured and ravished by the invaders (further dishonoring her King). (Dolby)
Training for the Opera actors
Training for actors in the Beijing Opera is portrayed in the movie as harsh, exacting and, at times, sadistic. In reality, training was harsh and demanding. The result was the refined and skilled performances the viewers (whether royalty, invaders, the common people or oversea audiences) demanded. Students trained under contract to the teacher and, since he provided for all them while they trained, once trained, they performed for him until they repaid their debt.
Director - Chen Kaige
I was born in Beijing on August 12, 1952, the son of film director Chen Huai'ai. When I was 15, as a result of the Cultural Revolution, I was sent to Yunnan province. After a few years clearing jungle there, I joined the People's Liberation Army. Three years after leaving the army, in 1978, I started studying at the Beijing Film Academy. I graduated in 1982.
I started working in television before graduation and landed the position of assistant directors for a children's film and a couple of other movies. My first big success was Yellow Earth (1984). Since then I have made several movies, Farewell My Concubine being one of the most successful and well known. (Tam, Kwon-kan & Dissanayake)
Films & Awards
Quotes that tell the story
"With a sword like this, the King of Chu would have won." "I want you to have a sword like this some day."
"I play a fake King, but you are really the concubine"
"A sword is the classic gift between the most intimate of friends..."
"Don't! That is a real sword"
"What do I want with a sword?"
"Why must the concubine always die?"
Comments by students in the class
by Licia Kim April 15, 2013
The target audience is not Chinese- it was made for the international market- in Hong Kong with money from international backers.It is a self reflective movie, from the Chinese perspective, and a "spectacle" for international audiences- both at the same time.
References
Dolby, William. Eight Chinese Plays from the Thirteenth Century to the Present (London: P. Elek; New York: Columbia University Press, 1978).
Tam,Kwok-kan & Wimal Dissanayake. New Chinese Cinema, 1998 (Chapter 2)