Farewell My Concubine
霸王别姬
(1993)
In an epic tale of theater, gender, love and class, two Beijing opera actors navigate political turmoil as their friendship evolves over decades.
12 Kinolab Clips
Opening Sequence
In 1977, Beijing Opera stars Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) are summoned to give one last performance together for the first time in over twenty years. Some fifty years earlier, a mother (Jiang Wenli) looks for someone to take care of her son (Ma Mingwei).
Duration: 00:06:23
Timestamp: 00:00:30
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Opera Troupe Training
Douzi (Ma Mingwei) begins his rigorous training in the opera troupe, and Shitou (Fei Yang) recieves punishment for trying to help him.
Duration: 00:03:21
Timestamp: 00:12:23
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
I Am By Nature a Boy
When asked to recite the heroine's lines from the play Dreaming of the World Outside the Nunnery, Douzi (Yin Zhi) messes up the words.
Duration: 00:04:31
Timestamp: 00:15:43
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
I Am By Nature a Girl
Douzi (Yin Zhi) performs his monologue for Na Kun (Ying Da) in an attempt to win his patronage for the opera troupe. When he makes the same mistake, Shitou (Zhao Hailong) commands him to try again. As a result, they win Na Kun's patronage and later perform Farewell, My Concubine together for Eunuch Zhang (Yidi).
Duration: 00:06:14
Timestamp: 00:31:51
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Eunuch Zhang
Eunuch Zhang (Yidi) asks to see Douzi (Yin Zhi) in his quarters alone. Later, Douzi cannot tell Shitou (Zhao Hailong) what happened.
Duration: 00:05:19
Timestamp: 00:38:16
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Mister Yuan and Consort Yu
Douzi (Leslie Cheung) and Shitou (Zhang Fengyi), now famous opera stars known as Dieyi and Xiaolou respectively, prepare to perform Farewell, My Concubine in front of Yuan Shiqing (Ge You), a high ranking official.
Duration: 00:07:33
Timestamp: 00:46:31
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
One's Most Intimate Friend
Yuan (Ge You) gifts Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) Zhang's old sword as a symbol of the relationship he wants to form with Dieyi. Later, Dieyi gives the sword to Xialou (Zhang Fengyi).
Duration: 00:06:08
Timestamp: 01:11:49
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Dieyi Performs for the Japanese
Juxian (Gong Li) asks Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) to help rescue Xialou (Zhang Fengyi), not knowing that he was already preparing to do so. Once they have reached an agreement, Dieyi performs for the Japanese in order to save Xiaolou from imprisonment.
Duration: 00:06:29
Timestamp: 01:21:17
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Saving Dieyi
Juxian (Gong Li) and Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) ask Yuan (Ge You) for help in freeing Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) from the charges of treason put against him.
Duration: 00:05:07
Timestamp: 01:48:59
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Consort Yu Usurped
Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) discovers that his apprentice Xiao Si (Lei Han) is replacing his role as Concubine Yu in the opera, a fact that Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) has also hidden from him.
Duration: 00:04:58
Timestamp: 02:17:32
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Struggle Session
Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) prepare to take part in a Struggle Session with other members of the opera troupe. During the session, Xiaolou accuses both Dieyi and Juxian (Gong Li) of past crimes.
Duration: 00:10:05
Timestamp: 02:34:40
Contributor: Phoebe Marin
Closing Sequence
Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) perform one last time together, including the piece from Dreaming of the World Outside the Nunnery that Dieyi always used to get wrong.
Duration: 00:03:11
Timestamp: 02:45:53
Contributor: Phoebe Marin