Farewell My Concubine
Two Beijing Opera performers endure shifting loyalties, forbidden desire, and the violent transformations of twentieth-century China.
Overview
A poignant exploration of love and sacrifice amidst the chaos of history.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Dense
- Violence
- Moderate
- tragic
- sweeping
- swooning
- arthouse film night
- world cinema weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Chen Kaige’s ambitious historical epic as visually enthralling and emotionally powerful, elevated by its performances and theatrical vitality.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou's Beijing Opera careers are repeatedly transformed by political campaigns and changing regimes.
Cheng Dieyi’s lifelong identification with the dan role intertwines theatrical femininity, desire, and personal vulnerability.
The intertwined lives of Dieyi, Xiaolou, and Juxian carry the story through major twentieth-century upheavals in China.
Elaborate Peking Opera costumes, makeup, choreography, color, and stage ritual are central to the film’s imagery.
Films like Farewell My Concubine, and why
The Last Emperor
shared epic historical drama, theatrical performance, political upheaval, and tragic intimate relationships
To Live
shared Chinese historical setting, cultural trauma, family loyalty, and visually sumptuous period drama
The Blue Is the Warmest Color
shared queer-coded performance, identity under social pressure, and emotionally devastating theatricality
The English Patient
shared tragic romance, artistic identity, and the collision between private desire and public history
Movie Details
- Director
- Chen Kaige
- Release Date
- 1993-01-01
- Runtime
- 171 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (711)
Cast
- Leslie Cheung
- Zhang Fengyi
- Gong Li
- Lü Qi
- Ying Da
- Ge You
- Lei Han
- Tong Di
- Yin Zhi
- Ma Mingwei
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hoopla, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Farewell My Concubine about?
- Two Beijing Opera performers endure shifting loyalties, forbidden desire, and the violent transformations of twentieth-century China.
- What is Farewell My Concubine like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Farewell My Concubine as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as dense.
- Is Farewell My Concubine violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Farewell My Concubine as moderate.
- What did critics think of Farewell My Concubine?
- Critics broadly regard Chen Kaige’s ambitious historical epic as visually enthralling and emotionally powerful, elevated by its performances and theatrical vitality.
- Which films are like Farewell My Concubine?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Emperor, To Live, The Blue Is the Warmest Color, and The English Patient.
- How long is Farewell My Concubine?
- Farewell My Concubine runs 171 minutes.
- Where can I watch Farewell My Concubine?
- In United States, Farewell My Concubine streams on Hoopla, MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus, BFI Player Amazon Channel, Film Movement Plus Amazon Channel.
