Review of The Last Emperor (1987) by Goh K — 15 Aug 2009
The Last Emperor of China was a ... Manchurian? Yep, the Manchurians (Jurchens or Ruzhen Tatars) were the last rulers of China for about 250 years. The Dowager Empress Cixi (who was known as the Old Buddha & who ruled China from behind the curtain) chose her 3-yr old great-nephew, Aisin Gioro Puyi (the son of Prince Chun II), to be the Last Emperor of China.
This film is about the beginning of the end & they needed Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci to bring it to life. The 1st western film allowed by the Chinese Govt since 1949 & the 1st film allowed to be made in the Forbidden City in 1987, it garnered 9 Oscars.
Was it due to Bertolucci's Marxist views that he secured the permission or the end of the cold war era? The epic shows Puyi's descent from the Imperial Chinese throne ending his life as a gardener in the Peoples' Socialist Republic of China.
But really, who wants to be an Emperor anyway? It's even better to be a horticulturist.
This review of The Last Emperor (1987) was written by Goh K on 15 Aug 2009.
The Last Emperor has generally received very positive reviews.
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