Ba wang bie ji (Farewell My Concubine) (1993)

88% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
91% of users liked it
(15,197 ratings)

Until Farewell, My Concubine (Ba Wang Bie Ji), not many people were aware that most members of the Peking Opera were originally orphans or illegitimate castaways with nowhere else to turn. Such is the case of the film's protagonists, Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) and Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung), two… More Until Farewell, My Concubine (Ba Wang Bie Ji), not many people were aware that most members of the Peking Opera were originally orphans or illegitimate castaways with nowhere else to turn. Such is the case of the film's protagonists, Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) and Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung), two homeless outcasts, trained from childhood in the grueling rigors of the Opera by master Lu Qui. The film traces the 52-year friendship between Xiaolou and Dieyi, a friendship pockmarked with fiery conflicts and tender reconciliations. Though the delicate Dieyi specializes in female roles and the gutsy Xiaolou plays noble warriors, theirs is an essentially heterosexual relationship; still, when Xiaolou takes upon himself a prostitute bride (the magnificent Gong Li), Dieyi is as petty and jealous as an outcast mistress. Farewell, My Concubine holds the viewer in thrall from start to finish; as such, it is thoroughly deserving of its many international film awards and nominations. Surprisingly, this worldwide success was something of a flop in its home country of China; perhaps it hit too close to home for those viewers who'd lived through the same years so painstakingly recreated in the film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Kaige Chen
Written By: Lillian Lee, Lilian Lee
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Dec 14, 1999
Studio: Miramax

Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
The scenes in the Peking Opera School, where boys are caned for doing wrong or right, are no less horrifying than the later tableaus of public humiliation at the hands of the Maoists.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This is entertaining filmmaking on a grand scale.
Derek Elley, Variety
Seductively lensed but emotionally uninvolving.
David Ansen, Newsweek
Chen's remarkable movie uses an unusual love triangle to telescope more than 50 years of tumultuous Chinese history.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
One of those very rare film spectacles that deliver just about everything the ads are likely to promise.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The film flows with such urgency that all its connections seem logical. And it is filmed with such visual splendor that possible objections are swept aside.
Phillipa Bloom, Empire Magazine
With stunning set pieces and the dramatic backdrop of the revolution, Kaige captures perfectly the relationship between the two boys.
, Film4
Gong Li is superb and Cheng Kaige's direction suitably grandiose.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
the drama is cheesy, simplistic and too stodgy in its presentation to really hold up to its historic framing and epic sweep
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Visually impressive and emotionally complex, this historical epic, winner of the Cannes Festival Palme d'Or, relates the tumultuous history of China through the story of two friends who meet as children and become stars of the Peking Opera.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Well-acted but limited because its drama is emotionally uninvolving.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
Sweeping, self-important and only moderately stirring.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Appropriately operatic, Chen's visually spectacular epic is sumptuous in every respect. Intelligent, enthralling, rhapsodic.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Visually stunning

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lanning :

What does it take to become a star? Wow! 92% of Flixsters and 88% of "critics" liked this one. Okay, I just have to preface this with two statements: You all know how much I like Gong Li, right? She's the bomb! And no, Walter, I did NOT… More
What does it take to become a star? Wow! 92% of Flixsters and 88% of "critics" liked this one. Okay, I just have to preface this with two statements: You all know how much I like Gong Li, right? She's the bomb! And no, Walter, I did NOT add this to our little list of films I can't sit all the way through -- although I was tempted. I never thought I'd write this, but . . . this lengthy little film became extremely tedious after Gong Li arrived on the scene. What great potential this one had. When I think about folks like Jackie Chan having come up through the Bejing Opera training ranks, I just have to pray that his personal story had happier days. Corporal punishment. I hear exhausted teachers joking about this all the time. I know they don't mean it, but they say: Yes, the laying on of the strap could be very useful" . . . I guess. In this movie, well, it's actually funny at times. Why? I have no idea. I am totally opposed to the idea of beating students. Ever. But really, what does it take to become a star? Six fingers? No, "freaks" are apparently out. Thank goodness for sharp knives . . . I guess. Great until . . . sadly he says . . . Gong Li comes on the scene. From then on? Well, the initial tension between the two males is the great energy that pushes the first half of the film. I believe the introduction of a (??another??) love interest, with Gong Li, is supposed to heighten the tension between the two, but ironically, for me at least, she absolutely blocks up the energy, the flow, the qi/chi/ki/mana of the story. Oh well, I bow to Walter's recommendation. Walter, what say you? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
Luke B

A wonderful sprawling epic that perfectly captures it's time period. Although it deals with some very important and deep political issues it is essentially a tale of two friends. The film starts with the men as children and we see their friendship grow as they deal with their… More
A wonderful sprawling epic that perfectly captures it's time period. Although it deals with some very important and deep political issues it is essentially a tale of two friends. The film starts with the men as children and we see their friendship grow as they deal with their rough childhood. Friendship soon turns to love but the arrival of Gong Li creates tension. The film has two incredible performances, one from Zhang as the stronger and more independent friend and Cheung as the tragic and needy Dieyi. The film has one of the most expertly crafted narratives I've ever seen. Every scene has a point and though it jumps through the decades, the mesmerizing editing means the film flows without interruption. This is a beautiful 3 hours, a film where everything comes together and makes a powerful and enlightening experience.
Candy R

Brilliant movie.
Dimitris S

Introspective epic,culminating pictures,aspect supported by the marks of the great Leslie Cheung (and of Li Gong's stealing-the-show performances), the political backdrop along with the luxurious art direction.
Donna D

I found this movie to be very well written and directed. I had different ideas on what this movie was going to be about, and it threw me way off. But it's a unique tale of the story, with amazing performances by both the young boy actors to the adult men that portray these… More
I found this movie to be very well written and directed. I had different ideas on what this movie was going to be about, and it threw me way off. But it's a unique tale of the story, with amazing performances by both the young boy actors to the adult men that portray these characters. Very well writtend and directed as well as the Art Direction and score for the film that made it more beautiful. ;) I liked it alot.
Leo L

Loved this film! First watched it when I was a teen.