classicsoncall The changing political fortunes of Beijing, China and it's opera is examined in this ambitious dramatic piece, focusing on a pair of theatrical stage brothers and a woman who comes between them. Realizing that a good portion of modern day China's history has been spent under Communist rule, it's nevertheless distressing to witness the type of torture aspiring actors had to go through in order to perfect their craft. The scenes of beatings and personal insults, especially when the principal characters were very young, seem altogether too brutal in the effort to make them remember their lines and deliver them effectively. It would seem more of a detriment to me to have that kind of pressure inflicted on someone. Perhaps the most distressing aspect of the story has to do with Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang) and Cheng (Leslie Cheung) declared traitors and enemies against the People during the 1966 Cultural Revolution, when all they were doing was what they had always done, performing their roles to the applause of an appreciative audience. It only goes to prove that one's fortunes are largely dependent on those in power governing in their own self interest.

hddu10-819-37458 Masterfully scripted, acted and filmed, "Farewell, My Concubine" evokes the genius cinematography of Scorsese, complimented with the harsh reality captured by the likes of David Lean. The story is unique, and gives us an insider's view into the changing face of China, decade by decade, as seen from a trio of characters who comprise a tragic love triangle. Gong Li is incredible as a strong-willed "dragon lady" raised in a brothel who will stop at nothing to achieve her own ambitions, yet who also wants to see new husband succeed as well. The music, costumes and overall sets are spectacular. This is not an uplifting film, but then again, neither is Chinese history.

Jackson Booth-Millard This Chinese film is one I found in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I didn't know anything about it beforehand, but it was rated highly by the critics, so I hoped for something good. Basically set in the 1920s and continuing through to the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, this is the story of how performers Douzi (Leslie Cheung) and Shitou (Fengyi Zhang) became friends and talented actors in the Beijing Opera. Later however Douzi wants to be more than friends, Shitou does not give into his advances, the situation worsens when courtesan Juxian (Li Gong) manipulates Shitou into rescuing her from a life of prostitution, and then marrying her, while Douzi is in fact homosexual. The friendship and relationship status between Douzi and Shitou goes up and down through the changing times over fifty years of Chinese history, but they remain close, but it is unclear whether they can return to the way things used to be, and the show must go on. Also starring Qi Lü as Master Guan, Da Ying as Manager, You Ge as Master Yuan, Chun Li as Xiao Si as a teenager, Han Lei as Xiao Si as an adult, Mingwei Ma as Douzi as a child, Zhi Yin as Douzi as a teenager, Yang Fei as Shitou as a child and Hailong Zhao as Shitou as a teenager. I will admit having to read the subtitles I could not follow absolutely everything going on, but the acting is certainly well done, the colourful sets and costumes certainly grab your attention, and the theatrical performances are interesting to watch, all in all I think the film is a worthwhile art house drama. Good, in my opinion! It won the BAFTA for Best Film not in the English Language, it won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and it was nominated the Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film. Good!

junyules liu Their love is humble and fierce. A lens is the deepest impression is butterfly garment rehabilitation building successful time to feed his drug sitting beside him, then senior teacher younger brother came in to see him when he shy smile and section of the building of ridicule him JiaoChen to choke him. He must feel very happy, in front of house so his sat next to him, even the chrysanthemum fairy said nothing. Women love to the old and the man to love is different. She is very pure love, true don't contain false naked love, want a birthright and he always followed her and to all people。When the cultural revolution was small four edges out don't her position at chrysanthemum fairy butterfly their makeup Chrysanthemum fairy, is really old, and she can be as beauty live forever in front of process adjustment. Her for so long, finally building Shouting I draw a line with her divorce with her. So she has always been to maintain the backbone. Yes, love can be a woman in my life the only really important things. How much she loved him, she also don't know. As she is such a status woman is not in a position to choose who don't have the right to love, wins is won. Actually I also thought she had won. If what can let him to heart, also is the dress from the back of the red wedding clothes. So I feel or butterfly garment more happiness. He love of so humble so no dignity but he can enjoy his easily Cheng butterfly heart remember is a sword Once we knew maybe a movie is a book album song at a concert Said you want to see I will go to buy and then lend you see film you say well I will go down seriously read and then tell you feel your best I'll wait for you whole looping remember every sentence lyrics say I can come then gloat. But we did not process adjustment so heart. After all, can turn around you don't have yourself, do you want to go to the east I like to do you want to go to the west I accompany you to use do you want to bully me do YuJi you want to break the selling watermelon came up I just far looking at you is like a difficult to cross the river. Final adjustment committed suicide. You should not meet, so then you may not love. The one you should not known well, so then you may not lovesick. The one you should not accompany, so then you may not owe. The one you should not pity, so then you may not recall. The one you should not love, so then you may not abandon. Had better not is opposite, so then you may not meet. The one you should not harm, so then you may not negative. Had better not mutually, so then you may not continue. Had better not linked, so then you may not match. Had better not meet, so then you may not meet. But once meet bosom friend, meet what to see. Monarch was Andrew tactic, not teach hard for acacia.