Farewell My Concubine (film)
Based on the novel by Lilian Lee, *Farewell My Concubine* is a 1993 epic historical drama directed by Chen Kaige, starring Leslie Cheung, Gong Li, and Zhang Fengyi. The film traces the volatile relationships between Peking opera performers Cheng Dieyi, Duan Xiaolou, and Xiaolou’s wife, Gong Juxian, against the backdrop of China’s turbulent 20th century, from the early Republic of China through the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. Central to the story is Dieyi’s lifelong, unrequited love for Xiaolou, which blurs the boundaries between his on-stage roles and his real identity. The film also explores political and social upheaval, a hallmark of Chinese Fifth Generation cinema. A co-production between China and Hong Kong, it premiered in Hong Kong on 1 January 1993. It received widespread critical acclaim, winning the Palme d’Or jointly with *The Piano* at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival—the first Chinese-language film to do so—along with a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. It earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film. Shortly after its Chinese release, the Politburo demanded changes due to its unconventional depictions of traditional values and political sensitivities, particularly regarding homosexuality, gender identity, a lead character’s suicide, and its portrayal of China’s 1960s turmoil. Though allowed a Beijing premiere, the government objected to these elements. The film was approved for re-release in September 1993, but with 14 minutes removed by state censors. Chinese officials believed this partial re-release would quell international backlash and support Beijing’s bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. *Farewell My Concubine* is considered a landmark of the Fifth Generation movement that brought Chinese directors global attention, and in 2005, *Time* magazine selected it as one of the “100 Best Films in Global History.”
- director
- Chen Kaige
- country
- China and Hong Kong (co-production)
- language
- Chinese
- genre
- Epic historical drama
- awards
- Palme d'Or (joint with The Piano), Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language
- based_on
- Novel by Lilian Lee
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- child=yes · t = 霸王別姬 · s = 霸王别姬 · p = Bà Wáng Bié Jī · l = The Hegemon-King Bids Farewell to His Concubine
- Director
- Chen Kaige
- Screenplay
- Lu Wei / Lilian Lee
- Based On
- Farewell My Concubine · Lilian Lee rewritten from Qiuhaitang by Qin Shouou · zh · 秦瘦鷗
- Producer
- Hsu Feng
- Starring
- Leslie Cheung / Zhang Fengyi / Gong Li
- Cinematography
- Gu Changwei
- Editing
- Pei Xiaonan
- Music
- Zhao Jiping
- Studio
- Beijing Film Studio / China Film Co-Production Corporation / Tomson Films / Maverick Picture Company
- Distributor
- Miramax (United States)
- Released
- df=y · 1993 · 01 · 01 · Hong Kong · 1993 · 10 · 15 · United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Young Douzi, abandoned by his prostitute mother, trains as a dan (female role) and later becomes Cheng Dieyi, while his friend Shitou becomes Duan Xiaolou. Their signature performance is the play Farewell My Concubine, and Dieyi harbors unrequited love for Xiaolou. After Xiaolou marries Juxian, a former prostitute, the emotional conflict deepens. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Dieyi performs for the Japanese to secure Xiaolou's release, leading to treason charges. Under communist rule, Dieyi's apprentice Xiao Si usurps his role, and during the Cultural Revolution, the troupe is persecuted by Red Guards. Xiaolou denounces Dieyi and Juxian under pressure, and Juxian commits suicide.
Reader's Guide
Farewell My Concubine is a landmark of the Chinese Fifth Generation cinema movement, which brought its directors to global prominence. The film explores the troubled relationships among three central characters—Peking opera actors Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou, and Xiaolou’s wife, Gong Juxian—set against the backdrop of 20th-century China’s political and social upheavals, from the early Republic through the Cultural Revolution. A central theme is identity confusion and the blurring of boundaries between real life and theatrical performance, embodied by Dieyi, whose unrequited love for Xiaolou persists throughout the story. The film also addresses political and societal disturbances typical of its cinematic movement. Upon its release, it received generally positive reviews and became the first Chinese-language film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes, also earning a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language, along with two Academy Award nominations. Shortly after its Chinese release, the Politburo demanded changes due to unconventional depictions of traditional values and political sensitivities, specifically objecting to representations of homosexuality and gender identity, a leading character’s suicide, and the portrayal of China’s 1960s turmoil. The film was later approved for re-release with 14 minutes removed by state censors, a decision Chinese officials made to counter international backlash and support Beijing’s bid for the 2000 Olympic Games. In 2005, Time magazine selected it as one of the “100 Best Films in Global History.”
Did You Know?
- After its release in China, the Politburo demanded changes due to its depiction of homosexuality, gender identity, a character's suicide, and the Cultural Revolution.
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