Farewell My Concubine Review

Film Analysis: Farewell My Concubine
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Film Analysis on Farewell My Concubine
Introduction
           The Chinese film, “Farewell My Concubine”, which is based on Lilian Lee’s novel bearing the same title, is an Oscar-nominated, award-winning film released in 1993 celebrating the Chinese culture and the portrayal of actors participating in the famous Peking Opera during different historical times. This film spans for 2 hours and 37 minutes, directed by Kaige Chen, starring Fengyi Zhang, Leslie Cheung, and Li Gong.   
           The film was banned by the Chinese government due to the homosexual theme present with the character of Die Yi, one of the film’s protagonists. After the banning of this film in Mainland China, it eventually was shown after a few months due to the outcry of foreign countries where the film was shown (Lin, 2018). It was shown in the theaters again but with cut scenes of around 14 minutes from its original length, as decided by the government. This was done so because, during those years, queerness or homosexuality was seen as a criminal violation and a mental illness that needed psychiatric aid. Suicide was also seen in various parts of the film, but the government found it offensive when suicide was done even after the time of the Cultural Revolution which was believed to be the time where the leaders are already in action. In addition to homosexuality and suicide, it was also seen as a taboo film due to the connection that it had with the Cultural Revolution. This was the time during Mao Zedong declared a revolution to abolish capitalism and other feudal ways which reflected the “four olds” (“thecensorshipfiles”, 2018).
           Kaige Chen was able to show the picture of politics and the various effects that it had on the common people of the society, like Die Yi, Xiaolou, and Ju Xian. The director’s depiction of the turmoil and the events brought by the Cultural Revolution were personal to him due to his first-hand experience and involvement in this part of China’s history. He was previously one of the Red Guards, which also led to Kaige condemning his father during the revolution. His father was jailed and participated in rubber plantation work for re-education during those times (Tyler, 1993). The chaos related to the Cultural Revolution was also seen during some scenes in the movie which will be discussed later.
Summary of the Film
           At the start of the movie adaptation of the novel, Farewell My Concubine, the scene that is first presented are two figures, one that is manly and huge in comparison to the other figure beside it which looks more petite, slender, and lady-like. After this scene, the screen turns black and white and shows a lady with a little child with ribbons on his hair. The lady is a prostitute with her son whom she cannot raise anymore in the brothel where she is currently working, so as a way to dispose of the child, she brings him to the troupe of performers. She pleaded for the acceptance o...