I remember back in the 90s when this film was first released - in Seoul Korea in a film college campus there were student, producers, and quite a few directors - discussing this very film. Long story short, the discussion started 3PM and ended at midnight. Enough said.
I saw Chen Kaige speak at a screening of Together. He said he wanted to make happier films which I didn't enjoy as much. I like seeing tragic films about China because it better represents it. The ROC time period in Farewell My Concubine was the best period for the opera singers. They could fully express themselves without facing political problems. Once Japan invades and the Communists take over, they were in trouble. This film was banned in Taiwan at first because there was a scene where Nationalists soldiers use flashlights during a show and behave badly.
These movies, "Farewell my Concubine" and "Raise the Red Lantern" are my favorite Chinese movies of all time. I saw "To Live" with Gong Li, however the first two movies are still my all-time favorite Chinese movies of the 1990's.
Leslie Cheung was such a great actor! Agree that they we don't see this kind of films anymore and it's really a pity I would love to see a review of the taiwanese film Seediq Bale if you have time
The struggle between two main characters show how difficult to survive during the time . Under the Cultural Revolution people didn't belong themselves, Eveyone can not escape and forced to choice side that none know which side is correct. I think maybe 程 can be part of China at that time, he forced to be an opera actor/ actress , tortured by the other people, forced to grow up, just like the people experienced in清末民初(suppressed by the other countries and so on) the interesting thing is when he "grow up" he keeps his own belief (with love)and never change. Maybe is also a kind of a metaphor that some of Chinese people want to keep Chinese culture?!(But actually I think what 段 do is more like a real people in real life haha) The movie is true long but it's worth it ! ( Like read a book! really! ) ps. I try my best to write comment in English 😅
I agree! It’s like a book and there are so many nice details you can find inside that it’s the type of movie that can be rewatched (just like a book can be reread )
Another great analysis of a classic film, Nick. If I were asked to recommend only one Chinese film about China, THIS film would be my unanimous choice. I have also read an essay by Linda Jaivin, an American-Australian who worked in China for many years as a translator, about her experiences doing the film's English subtitles for its international release. In one part of the essay, she mentioned a disagreement she had with the director (whose name is, I believe, CHEN Kaige) about how she had translated a certain line - and Chen Kaige actually speaks English quite well - but he ended up conceding to the translator LOL.
This was such a blast, I absolutely loved it! I also loved the To Live reference. I actually saw these back-to-back. There's a particular scene which I swear had the same set.
That was a very well thought-out commentary on a great film. I do think the film's sexual politics are a little iffy nowadays, what with increased awareness of transgender identity, but the central theme of the film is timeless. If it's not already on your list, I would adore a video on "A City of Sadness."
I agree and even though the central premise that gender identity needs motivation might not be “correct” they do handle the character with compassion so I think it’s still a positive representation. We will definitely review A City of Sadness! Thanks for the recommendation!
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I remember back in the 90s when this film was first released - in Seoul Korea in a film college campus there were student, producers, and quite a few directors - discussing this very film. Long story short, the discussion started 3PM and ended at midnight. Enough said.
This is pure cinema gold. We don’t get these kind of films anymore.
Very true. I can't remember the last film I saw that was as epic in scope as this one. I think they stopped making these types of historical epics
@@MintVolcano Closest recent epic film I saw was So long, my son. But i think Farewell, my concubine its even more ambitious
I saw Chen Kaige speak at a screening of Together. He said he wanted to make happier films which I didn't enjoy as much. I like seeing tragic films about China because it better represents it.
The ROC time period in Farewell My Concubine was the best period for the opera singers. They could fully express themselves without facing political problems. Once Japan invades and the Communists take over, they were in trouble.
This film was banned in Taiwan at first because there was a scene where Nationalists soldiers use flashlights during a show and behave badly.
These movies, "Farewell my Concubine" and "Raise the Red Lantern" are my favorite Chinese movies of all time. I saw "To Live" with Gong Li, however the first two movies are still my all-time favorite Chinese movies of the 1990's.
One of my favorite films.
Leslie Cheung was such a great actor! Agree that they we don't see this kind of films anymore and it's really a pity
I would love to see a review of the taiwanese film Seediq Bale if you have time
The struggle between two main characters show how difficult to survive during the time . Under the Cultural Revolution people didn't belong themselves, Eveyone can not escape and forced to choice side that none know which side is correct.
I think maybe 程 can be part of China at that time, he forced to be an opera actor/ actress , tortured by the other people, forced to grow up, just like the people experienced in清末民初(suppressed by the other countries and so on) the interesting thing is when he "grow up" he keeps his own belief (with love)and never change. Maybe is also a kind of a metaphor that some of Chinese people want to keep Chinese culture?!(But actually I think what 段 do is more like a real people in real life haha)
The movie is true long but it's worth it ! ( Like read a book! really! )
ps. I try my best to write comment in English 😅
I agree! It’s like a book and there are so many nice details you can find inside that it’s the type of movie that can be rewatched (just like a book can be reread )
Another great analysis of a classic film, Nick. If I were asked to recommend only one Chinese film about China, THIS film would be my unanimous choice. I have also read an essay by Linda Jaivin, an American-Australian who worked in China for many years as a translator, about her experiences doing the film's English subtitles for its international release. In one part of the essay, she mentioned a disagreement she had with the director (whose name is, I believe, CHEN Kaige) about how she had translated a certain line - and Chen Kaige actually speaks English quite well - but he ended up conceding to the translator LOL.
Thank you so much for watching these reviews! I agree about the recommendation for me it’s tie between this and “To Live”
This is on the level of Shakespeare's tragedy.
This was such a blast, I absolutely loved it! I also loved the To Live reference. I actually saw these back-to-back. There's a particular scene which I swear had the same set.
I’m very curious, which scene do you think had the same set?
We need a review for To Live.
To Live is tragic but has more irony in it.
That was a very well thought-out commentary on a great film. I do think the film's sexual politics are a little iffy nowadays, what with increased awareness of transgender identity, but the central theme of the film is timeless.
If it's not already on your list, I would adore a video on "A City of Sadness."
I agree and even though the central premise that gender identity needs motivation might not be “correct” they do handle the character with compassion so I think it’s still a positive representation. We will definitely review A City of Sadness! Thanks for the recommendation!
Here is our review of "A City of Sadness" - ruclips.net/video/FPp_kTAooJM/видео.html