YAM Must-Watch Choice: Farewell my Concubine
Hello, AsianPopShock!
Welcome to another edition of the YAM Must-Watch Choice! In this edition, in honor of YAM Magazine's LGBT Blogathon this year, the pick of the week is none other than Chen Kaige's Farewell my Concubine (霸王别姬), which won a Palme d'Or in Cannes, a BAFTA award, and a Golden Globe. It was, of course, nominated for an Academy Award against stiff competition like Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet (喜宴), Tran Anh Hung's The Scent of Green Papaya (Mùi đu đủ Xanh), and Fernando Trueba's Belle Époque.
Note: Product pictures coming soon
There have been a few releases of the film worldwide, which include VCD releases, DVDs in different regions, and just two recent Blu-ray ones. Despite some of the virtual ruckus suggesting a proper Criterion release of Farewell my Concubine, fans like me have to resign themselves to test out the waters.
But let's be honest, a beautifully shot film like this deserves a crisp and vibrant Blu-ray transfer, non?
These are the current releases of Farewell my Concubine with English subtitles:
1. US Regular Edition All Region NTSC DVD
2. Miramax Classics Regular Edition R-1 NTSC DVD
3. China Regular Edition All Region Blu-ray (pictured above), which includes:
Synopsis:
Farewell my Concubine depicts around 50 years in the lives of Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang), who met as boys when Dieyi was left at a Beijing opera training school where Xiaolou was a member of. The boys go through hardships to become the stars of the time, but their lives and relationship are affected by historical circumstances like the Japanese invasion, their surrender, and the victory of the Communist party in 1949.
A story of hardship, love and tragedy.
The Trailer:
Welcome to another edition of the YAM Must-Watch Choice! In this edition, in honor of YAM Magazine's LGBT Blogathon this year, the pick of the week is none other than Chen Kaige's Farewell my Concubine (霸王别姬), which won a Palme d'Or in Cannes, a BAFTA award, and a Golden Globe. It was, of course, nominated for an Academy Award against stiff competition like Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet (喜宴), Tran Anh Hung's The Scent of Green Papaya (Mùi đu đủ Xanh), and Fernando Trueba's Belle Époque.
Note: Product pictures coming soon
There have been a few releases of the film worldwide, which include VCD releases, DVDs in different regions, and just two recent Blu-ray ones. Despite some of the virtual ruckus suggesting a proper Criterion release of Farewell my Concubine, fans like me have to resign themselves to test out the waters.
But let's be honest, a beautifully shot film like this deserves a crisp and vibrant Blu-ray transfer, non?
These are the current releases of Farewell my Concubine with English subtitles:
1. US Regular Edition All Region NTSC DVD
2. Miramax Classics Regular Edition R-1 NTSC DVD
3. China Regular Edition All Region Blu-ray (pictured above), which includes:
- Audio commentary
Synopsis:
Farewell my Concubine depicts around 50 years in the lives of Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Xiaolou (Fengyi Zhang), who met as boys when Dieyi was left at a Beijing opera training school where Xiaolou was a member of. The boys go through hardships to become the stars of the time, but their lives and relationship are affected by historical circumstances like the Japanese invasion, their surrender, and the victory of the Communist party in 1949.
A story of hardship, love and tragedy.
The Trailer:
Click to view