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IMDbPro

Farewell My Concubine

Original title: Ba wang bie ji
  • 19931993
  • RR
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
30K
YOUR RATING
Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaMusicRomance
Two boys meet at an opera training school in Peking in 1924. Their resulting friendship will span nearly 70 years and will endure some of the most troublesome times in China's history.Two boys meet at an opera training school in Peking in 1924. Their resulting friendship will span nearly 70 years and will endure some of the most troublesome times in China's history.Two boys meet at an opera training school in Peking in 1924. Their resulting friendship will span nearly 70 years and will endure some of the most troublesome times in China's history.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
30K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kaige Chen
  • Writers
    • Pik-Wah Lee(novel)
    • Wei Lu
  • Stars
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Fengyi Zhang
    • Gong Li
  • Director
    • Kaige Chen
  • Writers
    • Pik-Wah Lee(novel)
    • Wei Lu
  • Stars
    • Leslie Cheung
    • Fengyi Zhang
    • Gong Li
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 129User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 24 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:56
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos148

    Gong Li in Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Leslie Cheung and Fengyi Zhang in Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Leslie Cheung in Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Gong Li in Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)
    Farewell My Concubine (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Leslie Cheung
    Leslie Cheung
    • Cheng Dieyi (segment "Douzi")
    Fengyi Zhang
    Fengyi Zhang
    • Duan Xiaolou (segment "Shitou")
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Juxian
    You Ge
    You Ge
    • Master Yuan
    Da Ying
    • Manager
    Qi Lü
    • Master Guan
    Han Lei
    • Xiao Si (adult)
    Di Tong
    • Zhang the Eunuch
    Zhi Yin
    Zhi Yin
    • Douzi as a Teenager
    Mingwei Ma
    • Douzi as a Child
    Hailong Zhao
    • Shitou as a Teenager
    Zhenxiang Fei
    • Shitou as a Child
    • (as Yang Fei)
    Dan Li
    Dan Li
    • Laizi…
    Yongchao Yang
    • Laizi as a Child
    Fei Huang
    • Old Master
    Wenli Jiang
    Wenli Jiang
    • Douzi's Mother
    Yitong Zhi
    • Aoki Saburo
    Chun Li
    • Xiao Si (in his teens)
    • Director
      • Kaige Chen
    • Writers
      • Pik-Wah Lee(novel) (screenplay)
      • Wei Lu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jackie Chan was originally offered the role of Duan Xiaolou due to his own childhood experience of training in the Peking Opera. But he turned it down, fearing that the film, which deals with themes of homosexuality, might tarnish his image.
    • Goofs
      When Douzi is first examined by the owner of the opera troupe, his extra finger is on his right hand below the thumb. When he withdraws the hand from the opera troupe owner, he pulls back his left arm. When his mother cuts the extra finger off a few moments later, it is now on his left hand, next to his pinkie.
    • Quotes

      Master Yuan: A smile ushers in the spring.

      Master Yuan: A tear does darken all the world.

      Master Yuan: How truly does this befit you. To you... only you are possessed of such charm.

    • Alternate versions
      The version presented in the U.S. is different from the original, longer cut, that was distributed internationally. The following differences exist in the U.S. version:
      • The scene where Duan and Juxian are drinking after their wedding was originally directly after the wedding scene, rather than after the bloodletting at the Yuan-Cheng dinner.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Rudy/A Life in the Theatre/Gettysburg/Farewell, My Concubine/Mr. Jones (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Farewell My Concubine Suite (Part I)
      Composed by Jiping Zhao

      © 1993 Varese Sarabande

    User reviews129

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Phantoms Of The Opera
    While 'Ba wang bie ji' (aka 'Farewell My Concubine') has been labelled as a tragic epic what really makes it stand out is its depth and attention to detail at the same time while telling an engaging story. Like Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' ''Ba wang bie ji' Kaige Chen's film is like a tragic poem on canvas. The vivid colours, the emotionally moving opera songs, the vivacious cinematography and luscious visuals all compare the film to a beautiful painting. Lillian Lee's superb screenplay (adapted from her own book) involves the viewer in Chinese history and the lives of Dieyi and Xiaolou. It beautifully introduces the viewer to the history of Chinese opera and also demonstrates the radical transformation that took place before the emergence of New China.

    Leslie Cheung gives a magnificent understated performance that is skillfully restrained. Even though his characters displays shades of darkness and malice, there is a humanity that draws immense sympathy from the viewer as one witnesses his life falling into pieces. Fengyi Zhang too does a great task as Xiaolou, who is in many ways Dieyi's polar opposite and his best friend (and love of his life). Gong Li is sublime and makes full use of her time and powerful expressions.

    I had been postponing watching the film because of its time length and I wanted to reserve 3 hours so that I can watch it in one go and devote my full attention to it. I was right to do so because this film deserves the viewer's full attention. It might be an overwhelming experience but one that is enlightening and worthy of the almost three hours (avoid the cut version).
    helpful•7
    2
    • Chrysanthepop
    • Jan 5, 2009

    FAQ1

    • Was Cheng Dieyi Gay?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1993 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • Bá Vương Biệt Cơ
    • Production companies
      • Beijing Film Studio
      • Tomson Films
      • China Film Co-Production Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,216,888
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $69,408
      • Oct 17, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,095,491
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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