Featured Audience Ratings

• Universal D

  
  The story of China joining the modern age seen through the lives of two principal performers of the Beijing Opera. Cruel, majestic, courageous, sweeping, and glorious, this is not to be missed. Of course, the singing can only be an acquired taste, but this is still about the story,… More
  The story of China joining the modern age seen through the lives of two principal performers of the Beijing Opera. Cruel, majestic, courageous, sweeping, and glorious, this is not to be missed. Of course, the singing can only be an acquired taste, but this is still about the story, magnificently told.

• Jim H

  
  This sprawling epic depicts the friendship of two Chinese opera stars amidst the tumultuous Twentieth Century history of China. What a grand film with beautiful art direction and cinematography to match. But the real highlights are the the two stars, Leslie Cheung and Fengyi Zhang… More
  This sprawling epic depicts the friendship of two Chinese opera stars amidst the tumultuous Twentieth Century history of China. What a grand film with beautiful art direction and cinematography to match. But the real highlights are the the two stars, Leslie Cheung and Fengyi Zhang who give tour de force performances. Their interaction is real and fraught with all the history the film depicts, which is no small matter; approximately fifty years of history are crammed into the film's three hours. Many of the scenes are built on subtlety and subtext with hinting looks and knowing glances, and lesser actors would not have been able to convey the nuances of the characters. I have to trust in the film's verisimilitude when it comes to the opera scenes, which are occasionally too long and not as compelling as the off-stage troubles the actors create and are victim to. These sequences are educational, exposing Western viewers to Chinese opera, an area of performance most of us aren't accustomed to seeing. Overall, Farewell, My Concubine is a remarkable achievement and a world-widening experience.

• Lanning :

  
  What does it take to become a star? <p> Wow! 92% of Flixsters and 88% of "critics" liked this one. Okay, I just have to preface this with two statements: <p> You all know how much I like Gong Li, right? She's the bomb! <p> And no, Walter, I did NOT… More
  What does it take to become a star? <p> Wow! 92% of Flixsters and 88% of "critics" liked this one. Okay, I just have to preface this with two statements: <p> You all know how much I like Gong Li, right? She's the bomb! <p> 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. <p> I never thought I'd write this, but . . . this lengthy little film became <b> extremely </b> tedious after Gong Li arrived on the scene. <p> 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. <p>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. <p> 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. <p> 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.

• John B

  
  The gang is all here! Li Gong! Leslie Cheung and Fengyi Zhang and not one of the bigger directors in the chair. Nonetheless Kaige Chen does a fabulous job of getting the most out of relationships with his actors.

• 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.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings