| Rating: IMDb: 8.1/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
| Main Cast: Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, Gong Li
| Director: Chen Kaige

Plot Summary:
Farewell My Concubine is a sweeping epic that spans over five decades, intertwining personal tragedy with the tumultuous history of 20th-century China. Directed by Chen Kaige, the film tells the story of two Peking Opera performers, Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi), whose lives and fates are deeply entwined both on and off the stage.

Dieyi and Xiaolou grow up together in the strict, grueling world of Peking Opera training, eventually rising to fame with their iconic performances, particularly in the opera Farewell My Concubine. Dieyi, who plays the female role, becomes deeply attached to Xiaolou, blurring the lines between their staged romance and reality. However, Xiaolou marries Juxian (Gong Li), a former prostitute, creating a rift in their bond and setting off a series of betrayals and heartbreak.

As the characters navigate political upheavals—ranging from the Japanese invasion to the Cultural Revolution—their lives are shaped and shattered by the changing tides of history. Dieyi’s unrequited love, Xiaolou’s pragmatism, and Juxian’s fierce independence form a poignant triangle that reflects the complexities of loyalty, love, and sacrifice.

With stunning performances by Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li, Farewell My Concubine captures the beauty and tragedy of human relationships against the backdrop of a nation in turmoil. The film’s lavish costumes, intricate opera sequences, and emotionally charged storytelling earned it the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, making it an enduring masterpiece of world cinema.