Cast: Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Li Gong, Qi Lu
Director: Kaige Chen
Rating:
Enetertainment Quotient: 10%
Genre: Drama/Music
Running time: 171 min
Launguage: Chinese
MPAA rating: R for language and strong depiction of thematic material

Synopsis:
Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) is son of a prostitute. His mother wants him to be an opera performer and leaves him in an opera school at a tender age. There Duan Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang) takes him under his wing and protects him against all the insecurities. They make a good pair together. Since Dieyi is a feminine looking man, he is offered the role of a Concubine in the opera and Xiaolou plays the king.

The story of the opera ‘Farewell My Concubine’ goes like this. The grand king goes through a lean phase and is left with just a woman and a horse. The woman (Concubine) takes the precious sword of the king and kills herself.

Xiaolou and Dieyi become stars in opera world. Xiaolou falls in love with a prostitute and marries her against the wishes of Dieyi. Dieyi gets jealous. It creates a rift between them. In the end, they are left with nothing but each other. These two guys meet again after a gap of twenty years and perform ‘Farewell My Concubine’ on an empty stage. Dieyi religiously follows the opera and kills himself like the Concubine by grabbing the sword from Xiaolou.

What is special in the film?
It is such a symbolic gesture. The story of the film is nothing but the story of the opera. Since the time frame of the story is fifty-two years, the director has also deftly incorporated the political changes in China.  Leslie Cheung is graceful and exceptionally good as Concubine. Fengyi Zhang is charming in the role of the king.

What I did not like in the film?
It is a 3 hour-long film. Hence, you need to really have ample spare time and patience to sit through the entire film, as the narration is very slow.

The scenes I liked in this film?

1. When the tutor objects that the kid with six fingers on hand is not suitable for Opera, his mother takes him to a mutton shop and chops off his extra finger.

2. The concluding scene where the climax of the opera comes on real on the screen.

Tailpiece: If you are interested in the culture of China, the operas, and political turbulence it went through during the world wars, you would definitely enjoy the film. Otherwise, you may watch this film for its aesthetic value, when you have ample time and nothing else to do.