Review of Farewell My Concubine (1993) by Matt H — 22 Feb 2012

Thought this movie would be a Chinese version of a love story about a prostitute-not exactly. I liked the film a lot, but I've found it confusing. One of those films you can watch several times. Some other really good Chinese films like this that I've seen were confusing as well because they don't say as much and a lot of it is implicitly implied with expression.

For instance, not sure why the Deiyi is replaced at the end by his protege and I wasn't really sure about a lot of parts in the film until I read about them. The ending was confusing and also if Deiyi was gay or not.

A lot of the film is open to interpretation. It was actually very depressing and this is the one of the only movies that has made me literally gag (when Zhang makes the kid pee and then goes to molest him-so disgusting).

Leslie did a phenomenal job as his part-very interesting character and he was so convincing and so was Li Gong. I liked the beginning better, but towards the second half with all the editing and politics I don't know that much about, it got messy.

Lots of little details were unexplained like why he was carried off in a carriage being called crazy etc.., although I got the main picture. Very disturbing as far as the child abuse in the beginning of the film and the fact that a kid actually kills themselves.

Later the political scenes are just as degrading and frightening. Lots of emotional and controversial scenes and great acting-really enjoyed costumes, music, and mesmerizing opera scenes.