Bawang bie ji Farewell my concubine
(DVD Video) 

Based on the novel by Lilian Lee.

Originally produced as a Hong Kong motion picture in 1993.

MPAA rating: R for language and strong depiction of thematic material.

Special features: Film recommendations [text feature].

Director of cinematography, Gu Changwei ; editor, Pei Xiaonan ; music by Zhao Jiping ; production design Yang Yuhe, Yang Zhanjia ; art direction, Chen Huaikai.

Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li.

This tale spans 50 years--from 1925 to 1977--a story at once that of individuals and of the history of China. Two young orphan boys are in the Peking Opera's perfectionist training academy. Eventually, Dieyi is assigned the role of the concubine in the famous traditional opera of the film's title, while Xiaolou will play the king. They are locked into these roles onstage, while their personal relationship somehow survives the upheavals of World War II, the communist takeover of China and the Cultural Revolution. Dieyi is livid when Xiaolou marries Juxian, who spends her life at the mercy of two men whose work together has defined their individual personalities.

MPAA rating: R

DVD; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby Digital 2.0 surround; widescreen presentation preserving the original theatrical aspect ratio 1.85:1.

In Chinese with optional subtitles in English; closed-captioned.

Winner, Prix de la FIPRESCI and Palme d'Or: Chen Kaige, 1993 Cannes Film Festival; Golden Globe: Best Foreign Language Film, 1994 Golden Globe Awards.