Farewell My Concubine

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Farewell My Concubine

R

1993

2h 37m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Chen Kaige's much acclaimed, long out of print masterpiece chronicles the rise of two young stars of the Beijing Opera House, their turbulent relationship, and ultimate downfalls. Beginning in 1924 and spanning nearly half a century, Farewell My Concubine's sumptuous narrative is interwoven with moments from some of the most troublesome times in modern Chinese history, including Japan's 1937 invasion though to the Chinese Cultural Revolution and its aftermath.

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Critics Consensus

Chen Kaing's epic is grand in scope and presentation, and, bolstered by solid performances, the result is a film both horrifying and enthralling.

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

Jul 28, 2024

Chen Kaige offers a definitive vision of what it looks, sounds, and feels like to realize that the personal is always political.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Sep 21, 2023

4/4

The movie is more stunning than ever, a daring blend of history and personal storytelling with one of the most striking performances of its era from Leslie Cheung.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

May 9, 2023

An unhurried journey on the great tide of modern Chinese history, this gorgeous, intoxicating epic is confident enough of its visual and narrative power not to rush the telling.

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Scott Nye

Battleship Pretension

Aug 20, 2024

What Farewell My Concubine is, most clearly, immediately, and strikingly, is staggeringly beautiful.

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Ellie Lucas

trans|cendental cinema

Aug 5, 2024

3.5/4

A tale in which gender roles and sexuality clash in a world built on tradition and artifice, becoming intertwined with the ever-shifting march of time that leaves little time for personal truth.

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Matt Brown

ScreenAnarchy

Jul 22, 2024

It remains a bravura act of filmmaking. ... The restoration of Farewell My Concubine for this release is among the finest I've seen in the Criterion Collection.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Sep 24, 2026

Melodramatically haunting to the fullest that would overwhelm yet quietly appreciate the culturally designed and chemical beauty through the hefty performances with faithful convictions. (B)

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 8, 2026

Farewell My Concubine = 4.5 star Movie!

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Matthew D

@OceanSage Feb 4, 2026

Leslie Cheung leads a devastatingly sad look at China’s history of art, abuse, love, occupation, change, and loss. Director Chen Kaige’s Chinese historical drama epic Farewell My Concubine (1993) is an incredible feature. Kaige’s direction delivers a daring tale of a gay romance, abused boys, dedicated theater actors, and forbidden love. Writers Lilian Lee Bik-Wah and Lu Wei came up with a very bold and original story. Seeing two friends, who were beaten and abused as boys, become star stage actors in old China is touching. Leslie Cheung is very moving as the hero Xiao Douzi, who becomes opera star Cheng Dieyi, who is obsessed with performing plays and in love with Xiaolou. His every word hurts like the pain in his eyes as he gazes at the man he’s in love with that he cannot be with ever. Zhang Fengyi is powerful as the stubborn actor Duan Xiaolou, who loves Juxian and has a lifelong friendship with Dieyi. In all, Farewell My Concubine is a must see film.

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Joy B.

@9mr_0 Dec 20, 2025

تحفة فنية بكل المقايس اداء تمثيلي رائع وقوي لقصة جميلة جدا تصوير و اخراج ممتاز مع موسيقى جميلة

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Joao G

@RT50242136 Nov 29, 2025

Incredible and beautiful 10

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bao s

@RT77741678 Jul 21, 2025

absolutely perfect!!

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Chen Kaige

Director

Leslie Cheung

Cheng Dieyi (segment "Douzi")

Fengyi Zhang

Duan Xiaolou (segment "Shitou")

Gong Li

Juxian

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Farewell My Concubine: 4K Restoration Trailer

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Synopsis

Chen Kaige's much acclaimed, long out of print masterpiece chronicles the rise of two young stars of the Beijing Opera House, their turbulent relationship, and ultimate downfalls. Beginning in 1924 and spanning nearly half a century, Farewell My Concubine's sumptuous narrative is interwoven with moments from some of the most troublesome times in modern Chinese history, including Japan's 1937 invasion though to the Chinese Cultural Revolution and its aftermath.

Director: Chen Kaige
Producer: Feng Hsu
Screenwriter: Wei Lu
Distributor: Miramax Films, Artificial Eye
Production Co: Tomson Films, Beijing Film Studio
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 1993, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 22, 2023
Release Date (DVD): Jul 14, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $332.2K
Runtime: 2h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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