Farewell My Concubine

Starring:Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, Li Gong, Qi Lu, Da Ying, You Ge, Chun Li, Han Lei, Di Tong, Mingwei Ma, Yang Fei, Zhi Yin, Hailong Zhao, Dan Li (II), Wenli Jiang, Yitong Zhi, David Wu (II), Qing Xu
Director: Kaige Chen
Studio: Miramax
Product Type: DVD

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The panorama of 20th-century Chinese history swirls past two men, celebrated actors with their own decidedly specialized view of things. We first observe their lives as children at the Peking Opera training school, a brutal and demanding arena for future actors. While still in training, the effeminate Douzi is chosen to play the transvestite role and the masculine Shitou is chosen to play the royal role in a ritualized play about a king and a concubine. The actors are so good at this performance that they become identified with these roles for their entire careers; through World War II, through the takeover by the Communists, through the insanity of the Cultural Revolution, they are known for their famous parts. Leslie Cheung and Zhang Fengyi are powerful as the two men, and Gong Li (the beautiful leading lady of Raise the Red Lantern) plays the wife of the latter. The movie may be stronger on good old-fashioned melodrama than on profound conclusions, but boy, does it fill up the eyes. The director is Chen Kaige, one of the most talented members of China's "Fifth Generation" of filmmakers, whose daring subject matter (and sometimes bald international ambitions) have often irked the Chinese government. Indeed, though Farewell My Concubine shared the top prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and snagged two Oscar nominations, it had difficulty gaining official approval from China. --Robert Horton

Description

Critically acclaimed as one of the best films of the year, this seductive, award-winning triumph captivated moviegoers the world over. It's the compelling tale of two lifelong friends unexpectedly caught in a passionate love triangle with the woman who comes between them! Academy Award(R)-nominated, FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE (1993 -- Best Foreign Language Film) earned the Golden Globe as Best Foreign Film in addition to claiming Best Picture honors at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival! Packed with vivid, provocative imagery throughout, this sensual story of love and betrayal is the hot and exotic must-see movie of the year!

Customer Reviews:

Epic on any scale.......2007-06-11

Having been told for a few years that this is a film I "must see", I finally decided to check it out.
As others have noted, this film is long; my copy clocks in at 172 minutes. However, I did find that any section was weak or dragged on. For me, it was the brilliant performance by Leslie Cheung as Cheng that kept the film centered. As the violent political atmosphere of China from 1924-1977 throws danger and traps in his path, Cheng clings to and embodies the spirit of the opera. His obsessive nature serves him on his climb to fame and in the end destroys him. Cheung's performance is incredible and I will certainly be watching more of his films.
I thought Gong Li's performance was impressive as well. With one look, she is able to convey crushing disappointment and hopelessness. It is heart wrenching.
I thought Zhang Fengyi's Xiaolou was a little uneven. His transformation from beginning to end rang a little false and, from what I could understand, didn't quite fit the "King & Concubine" theme running through the film. I did think, however that Cheng and Xiaolou were interesting contrasts and helped add that touch of melodrama.
Great film and one I will be watching again.

$9.99 English only subtitles.......2007-06-05

There are no Chinese subtitles for this Chinese film in this dvd edition. This film is still the director's best so far and from the opening scene of Leslie's assailed posture and his hero's cautious interacton with the unseen petty authority, I felt immediately sad. This is a good story and a well made film but it is also so Chinese with the added element of having the perspective of a Chinese outside of the Mainland, the author. In this way, the Chineseness of the film is more intense. I don't regret paying $7.50 for this film even though there are no Chinese subtitles or any special features whatsoever. This film deserves commentary and cast interviews.

good movie, but sad.......2007-05-16

This was a good movie, but sad. I think the acting in it was very well done. Its not something you want to watch everyday, highly depressing ending, but worth your time.

A Chinese "Gone with the Wind" Epic.......2007-05-14

Great epic saga set on the backdrop of the political and cultural upheavals of 20 century. Excellent but don't start this movie unless you fresh and prepared for a long show.

Not for everyone, but a good film..........2007-05-12

Since I watched this movie for Gong Li, I wasn't pleased that it took her a while to appear in the film. However, the story kept me interested as I waited for her. I can't lie and say that I didn't fast-forward some parts here and there that didn't seem terribly relevant to the plot, considering it's long running time overall. I was happily surprised by the bond/love shared by the two male characters since childhood. When you read that there's a love triangle and you see that there are two men and one woman, one usually assumes that both men will be in love with her. So again, I was pleasantly surprised with that angle of the film. And being a gay-rights activist, I enjoyed the hints of homosexuality in the movie (though I would've liked to see even more of it). Anyway, the movie's filled with history and emotions. I'd watch it again.

Best of World Cinema - Volume 1 (Amelie/Malena/Farewell My Concubine/Cinema Paradiso: the New Version)

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Exotic world movies

Best of World Cinema - Volume 1 (Amelie/Malena/Farewell My Concubine/Cinema Paradiso: the New Version)
Starring: Audrey Tautou , Mathieu Kassovitz , Rufus , Lorella Cravotta , and Serge Merlin
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet , Kaige Chen , and Giuseppe Tornatore
Manufacturer: Miramax Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000YTOSA
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Description

Grab your passport and experience Miramax's BEST OF WORLD CINEMA I, featuring the internationally acclaimed films AMÉLIE, CINEMA PARADISO, MALENA, and FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE -- all in widescreen format! AMÉLIE: Nominated for five 2001 Academy Awards(R), including Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Language Film, and Best Cinematography. Special 2-disc set. CINEMA PARADISO: THE NEW VERSION: Winner of the 1989 Academy Award(R) for Best Foreign Language Film and winner of the Grand Prize Jury Award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. MALENA: Nominated for two 2000 Academy Awards® including Best Cinematography and Best Score. FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE: Nominated for two 1993 Academy Awards(R), including Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography, Golden Globe® winner for Best Foreign Film, and Palme D'Or (Best Film) winner at the prestigious Cannes Film festival. CLICK ON LINKS BELOW FOR INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT DETAILS.

Customer Reviews:

Exotic world movies.......2004-07-24

French, Chinese, and Italian -- three different countries, cultures, and worldviews. Two tragedies, a romantic comedy, and a character drama. This is the "Best of World Cinema Volume 1," collecting four of the best and most beautiful non-American films together.

"Amelie" makes life a little better for everyone. The entrancing, whimsical story centers on the sweet-natured, shy Amelie (Audrey Tautou) who finds a little box of treasures in her apartment, and returns it to its owner, now an old man. She changes the man's life, and decides to continue doing good for others via benevolent meddling. But then when she encounters her soulmate, will Amelie summon the courage to help herself as she's helped others?

"Malèna" is the heart and soul of this lush, riveting film. The sensual Malèna (Monica Belucci) moves into a small Sicilian town in the 1940s, and immediately captures the adoration of all the men, and the disgust of all the women. Preteen Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) begins to develop pure, worshipful feelings for Malèna, but as he grows toward manhood, he sees that not all her beauty is on the outside.

"Farewell My Concubine" gives a breathtaking look at Chinese history and culture. A prostitute manages to get her young son Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung), into the world of the Peking Opera, and falls in love with his costar Duan Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang). But Duan takes a beautiful courtesan as his wife, and thus begins Dieyi's fall from grace.

"Cinema Paradiso: the New Version" is the expanded version of the classic film, a film about film. A famed film director returns to his old hometown and reminisces about his life, and the path that set him towards cinematic fame. As a boy (Marco Leonardi), he befriended a blinded projectionist (Philippe Noiret) -- but did the old man give him fame and glory at the cost of his love?

"The Best of World Cinema" covers different cultures, characters, and ways of directing. And they deal with each topic in their own ways -- fate, love, jealousy, hate and gossip. Is it depressing? In a majestic, melancholy way, some of the films are depressing, although the gorgeous "Amelie" will uplift you if you watch it last.

The acting in these films is almost uniformly superb, from Belucci's silent temptress to Leslie Cheung's tragic young singer to Tautou's elfin sweetheart. And the direction ranges as well -- "Farewell" is starker and grittier, "Amelie" is fantastical and wink-nudge sweetness, and "Malèna"'s warm sensuality.

Four beautiful movies. Four magnificent stories. And four modern classics of the cinema, each a work of art in its own way. Highly, immensely recommended.

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