Directed by Chen Kaige

Produced by Hsu Feng

Written by Lilian Lee Lei Bik-Wa Lu Wei

Novel Lilian Lee

Starring Leslie Cheung Zhang Fengyi Gong Li

Music by Zhao Jiping

Cinematography Gu Changwei

Editing by Pei Xiaonan

Distributed by Miramax Films

Release date(s) 1 January 1993 (Hong Kong)

Running time 171 minutes

Chinese name: 霸王别姬

English name: Farewell, My Concubine

An exemplar work of Chinese movies, ‘Farewell, My Concubine’ was awarded the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival. It is adapted from the novel written by Hong Kong female writer Li Bihua.

The film tells the story of Cheng Dieyi, a Peking Opera singer who was sold to a Peking Opera troupe since the childhood. He has a close relationship with his senior fellow apprentice Duan Xiaolou, and the two rise to fame in the capital for co-starring ‘Farewell, My Concubine’.

However, Duan Xiaolou has married prostitute Ju Xian beforehand, and during the Cultural Revolution, Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou betray each other, which makes Dieyi feel lost at the lifelong artistic pursuit.

In the end Cheng Dieyi commits suicide at the stage when rehearsing with Duan Xiaolou again after the Cultural Revolution.

Magnificent in style and elaborate in making, the film mixed the story of the two Peking Opera singers with the historic development of China over half a century, depicting the epic structure with subtle feelings between the two males.