Chen Kaige emerged as a leading figure of China’s Fifth Generation of filmmakers with this landmark epic which introduced international audiences to an exciting new voice in world cinema. Adapted from the novel by Lilian Lee (ROUGE), FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE traces the lifelong journey of two actors, Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi), whose shared passion for Peking Opera binds their fates into a complex, enduring friendship that is set against the political and social upheaval of twentieth century China. The challenges of the opera, civil unrest, and a love triangle with a headstrong courtesan (Gong Li) threaten to tear the duo apart as the line blurs between their lives on and offstage. The first Chinese-language film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes, this visual and emotional tour de force is a moving ode to the transformative power of art, the indomitable human spirit, and the enduring impact of love and friendship.
