The year 2025 marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. In 1905, a Peking Opera titled "Dingjun Shan" (Dingjun Mountains) was filmed in Beijing. Directed by the owner of a photo studio and featuring a renowned Peking Opera actor, it was not only the first motion picture ever made in China but also established opera features as a mainstream genre in the Chinese film repertoire.

"Farewell My Concubine" is a traditional play in Peking Opera. The story is based on the historical events involving Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, the supreme lord of Chu, as they fought for the unification of China. In the later stage of their battles, Xiang was besieged by Liu's troops. One night, as Xiang and his concubine, Yu Ji, listened to Chu songs being sung by Liu Bang's forces around their camps, they realized their impending doom. In despair, Yu Ji took her own life using Xiang's sword. Xiang managed to escape the siege but ultimately also killed himself.

Director Chen Kaige's masterpiece "Farewell My Concubine" is a sumptuous and moving epic that epitomizes the best of Chinese cinema. Based on the novel by the Hong Kong writer Lilian Lee, Chen's adaptation is a daring exploration of art, friendship, love and betrayal. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of more than fifty years of Chinese history, the film charts the relationship between two stars in a Peking Opera Troupe: Cheng Dieyi, who performs as Yu Ji on stage, and Duan Xiaolou, who portrays Xiang Yu, and Ju Xian, the woman who comes between them.

The Film won the Palme d'Or​ at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, making it the first Chinese-language film to achieve this honor. It also garnered additional accolades, including a Golden Globe​ for Best Foreign Language Film​ and a BAFTA​ for Best Film Not in the English Language​, and received two nominations at the 66th Academy Awards​ for Best Cinematography​ and Best Foreign Language Film​. Internationally the film was recognized with more than twenty major awards. Brian Tallerico at RogerEbert.com writes: "Like a great opera, Chen's film will transcend centuries and maintain its power".

Film

Farewell My Concubine

Directed by

Chen Kaige​ 陈凯歌

Written by

Lilian Lee Pik-Wah 李碧华

Lu Wei 芦苇

Cinematography

Gu Changwei 顾长卫

Language

Chinese with English subtitles

Starring

Leslie Cheung​ 张国荣

Zhang Fengyi​ 张丰毅

Gong Li​ 巩俐

Please note RAS Film Club no longer accommodates payment at door by Alipay and wechat. All tickets need to be purchased online via the registration link in the event announcement.