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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Farewell Concubine
Interesting but oh so long! It reached a point where I just wanted it to end.
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"Farewell My Concubine" Displays Pre-cultural Revolution China
"Farewell My Concubine" is pure cinematic splendor as it tells the story of two young boys who are orphaned and growing up in a school for Chinese Opera performers. One boy is the stronger one who eventually looks after the younger boy who, on first site, looks like a little girl. Gong Li enters the story after the two boys have grown up. Li plays a prostitute in the "House of Blossoms" whose steady "customer" is the stronger of the two young men. They marry and this sets off a chain of events between the stronger and the weaker, feminine young men. "Farewell" unfolds the Communist takeover of China and the "outing" of those people who are against Communism and want to stick to the "old ways." Chinese Opera is a definite target of the Communists and what happens is gut-wrenching, exciting, sad and shocking! "Farewell" also covers the Japanese invasion of China just prior to the Communist take-over.
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Perhaps Leslie Cheung's Finest On-Screen Moments!
Before seeing Leslie Cheung in Farewell My Concubine, I had seen him in approximately a dozen other movies, playing everything from macho police cadet to romantic hero to gay gigolo. He was equally impressive in each of these roles. But when I saw him portray Dousi in Farewell My Concubine, I saw the true extent of his brilliance. I can't imagine that anyone else could have portrayed this role so convincingly. Other reviewers have explained the story far better than I can, so I will not bore you with those details.
However, for me, the major theme of this movie is betrayal. Dousi (Cheung) is the soft, effeminate, sensitive one who plays the part of the Concubine to his longtime friend, (Zhang Fengi's) Shitou's macho role of the King in the opera which defines their lives from the age of 16 until their 40's. The title of the movie takes its name from the opera for which they are famous, "Farewell My Concubine." Although it is Shitou who is portrayed as the strong masculine partner, it is Dousi who shows the greatest courage and self-sacrifice in the face of danger and loss throughout all the years he and Shitou are together as friends and acting partners. It is obvious that Dousi has a deep love for Shitou both as a friend and as a soulmate. However, Shitou is attracted only to women and sees Dousi as a friend and acting partner only. Yet, he is not above exploiting Dousi's love for him for his own benefit. Although Shitou does have a feeling of friendship to Dousi and cares about him in his own way, Shitou is often callous and insensitive to Dousi. He is betrayed on numerous occasions by both Shitou and the woman Shitou marries. However, it is Shitou's ultimately selfish and cruel betrayal of Dousi after the Japanese occupation of China that you see the depth of Shitou's cowardice. Seemingly, without hesitation, he abandons Dousi by telling lies and saying and doing whatever he thinks is necessary to save himself from the Japanese officers' wrath. With great loyalty and love, Dousi remains silent and courageously faces the ensuing consequences rather than risk harm to his beloved Shitou.
Since the movie takes place over a period of approximately 40 years, there are a lot of political changes which take place in China during this time frame. However, even if you are not familiar with China's history, it is explained well enough that you will not be confused. The movie is visually stunning and the acting superb. Still, it is Leslie Cheung's portrayal of Dousi, the "concubine," which makes this movie worth seeing and owning. I was surprised that the movie's length is approximately 3 hours long, because it moves along so swiftly yet effortlessly. Leslie Cheung's performance is heart-breaking and made even more so given his later real-life suicide. I can't help but feel that, at least part of the time, we are seeing the "real" Leslie Cheung onscreen and not just the part he is playing. The movie is beautiful and moving and artistic. It is a masterpiece.
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Leslie Cheung's defining role
Farewell, My Concubine is the role Leslie Cheung was born to play. This most gorgeous man/woman apparently identified with this role to the point that, after his death, it was as this character the actor was immortalized at Mme. Tussaud's wax museum in Hong Kong. I was never terribly excited by Leslie as a serious actor, that was until I saw this film. Seeing him in Farewell, My Concubine was like being struck by lightening. Now, for the first time, I understand "Leslie love". His range as an actor, how he expressed such fine gradations of emotion while wearing thick, white facepaint, is all on display here, as is his pretenatural physical beauty. Do I care that, as a human-being, he was gay and/or bisexual? Not a bit. As Leslie said more than once--man or woman, it doesn't matter, I simply love you. An amazing performance, by an amazing actor. What's not to love?
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Farewell My Concubine
Bringing a panoramic historical sweep to this intimate, tragic tale of love and friendship, Chen Kaige creates a marvelous spectacle from exotic locales, lavish set design, and fabulous performances by Cheung, Fengyi, and flawless beauty Gong Li. Most impressive is how Kaige pairs the story of Dieyi, an androgynous performer who secretly pines for Xiaolou, with each stage in China's turbulent 20th-century history, leading up to the dark years of Mao's Cultural Revolution. Beautifully realized and lushly photographed, this "Concubine" will surely seduce you.
