Film analysis on Farewell, My Concubine Arts Research Paper

Farewell my Concubine
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Farewell my Concubine
Peking Opera is a legendary art of that speaks to the different forms of art that Chinese culture relishes. This historical artistry that was inaugurated conglomerates all the aspects of entertainment such a fighting, dancing singing, musical pieces and all sorts of creative performances. The performers of these pieces are the main characters in the Peking theatre while writers and directors behind the performances take second place. Even with the dramatic events that marked the evolution of the Chinese culture, the core elements of Peking Opera remained unchanged over the decades. Due to this, Peking Opera’ has inspired various Chinese movies and forms of entertained. One of the movies whose inspiration was Peking Opera is Chen Kaige’s popular dram film named Farewell My Concubine that was debuted in the year 1993.
Several themes emerge and develop throughout the film, Farewell My Concubine creating a complex staged performance. However, amidst all the events that collectively make up the movie, the director intentionally illuminates the role of Peking Opera in the society in a significant way. He demonstrates the high place of Peking Opera by using it to develop the main theme. The opera is the platform of the events as well as the home to the main characters (Concubine, 1993). Moreover, the film director delves into the intricate relationship between the main character’s lifestyle and their acting professions.
The film’s main characters are Dieyi and Xiaolou. The two spend literally all their lives perfecting their act in the Opera. They are portrayed to have first-hand encounter of the historical events even as they play their roles in the play. The performances held in the Opera therefore, become a normal part of their daily life.
Throughout out the movie, the director elaborately captures and shows hallmark events of the Chinese history. The events are re-played purposely to give the viewer a step into history and to help to reconnect viewers with the long-forgotten history. Some of the events depicted in the film include invasion of China by Japan, the famous World War II, The Cultural Revolution, the Communist Regime and the civil war that rummaged China (Concubine, 1993). All these events happened between 1925 and 1977 at the watch of the film’s main characters. Besides this, Peking Opera plays a pivotal role in the film as it is the arena for the events. At the same time, Peking Opera is, in the film, the life of the main actors.
Therefore, it is important to understand why the film director pays so much attention to the role of Peking Opera in the movies. From a general understanding, theatres have always played a key role in the lives of the Chinese people and so does Peking Opera. First, theatres, through the diverse performances embody historical, social and cultural perceptions of the people (Concubine, 1993). Second, theatres evolved to become places of liberations from social ties where the people shared power to end gender and ethnic discrimination. The Peking Opera offered an ideal space for political and social discussions for social growth. Addition...