Review of Farewell My Concubine (1993) by Adrian B — 04 Aug 2011

A Chinese opera known as "Farewell My Concubine" is chronicled through a 53 year history (1924-1977). In the 1920's, young children, abandoned or orphaned, are recruited to a performance school, where they are beaten for whatever reason the masters can possibly think of (if they are well-behaved, they are beaten).

Quite cruel and harsh, and sadly very effective. The beating stops (or at least subsides) when one of the very young students kills himself. Also, the physical abuse scars them for life, as you continue to watch the film.

One student, a female (Gong Li) mixed in with the masses of male students, survives along with them and stays with the opera for many years, of which she marries another actor. After the students grow older, the opera suffers through World War II and the Japanese takeover, as well the controversial leadership of Chiang Kai Shek.

It is pretty good film in how it shows off the opera through several performances, troubled history, costumes, and the early days of the students. It is, however, too long (and I watched the longer version of 170 minutes and I know there is and edited version at 155 minutes).

The first half is much better than the second half, at least I think so.