Review of Farewell My Concubine (1993) by Erica O — 10 Jul 2007

The movie is much more than the historical background against which it takes place, although it would be easy to dismiss the film's other aspects. In fact, it could be thought of, at it's core, as a story of frustrated love.

It is amazingly complex, addressing numerous issues, including but not limited to politics, china as a nation, homosexuality, the aesthetics of peking opera, and of course, the backbone (in my opinion) of the film, the intricate development of the personality and interactions of the two main characters.

Amazingly, the treatment of such diverse subjects, while leading the movie to be a bit scattered, is still cohesive for the most part. Important to this movie is betrayal and the subversion of one's identity which can occur with the conflict of obligations to friends, society, fulfillment of one's own artistic purpose, tradition, and modernity.

None of these variables are set up in a dichotomous relationship. Their interaction is far from manichean, and is complicated on several levels. Also, the movie is worth watching if only for the sake of Gong Li, though I would argue that this is not her best performance.

Beautiful visually as well. Kaige is my favorite 5th generation director, and this is my favorite film by him.