Farewell My Concubine (DVD, 1999)

The movie was superbly made and acted. The lives of the 3 main characters and that of China itself , at that time, begin to converge for a tragic ending where both country and individuals share the same stage. Great story telling, and a line of thematic continuity that begins at the begin....and goes all the way to the end.Fabulous.......

I bought this release because the subtitles, though essentially the same as those on China's "Follow Along in Mandarin" release, are corrected as to spelling, misspellings being innumerable on the "Follow Along" release.

For those unfamiliar, this is a film about two children -- at least one of them abandoned -- as students of the Peking Opera, and what they go through both as trainees and personally. Numberous fuller reviews can readily be found on the 'Net.

It is a compelling film, though intense and relatively claustrophobic; and the brutalities imposed on the students was difficult to watch. But much of that is compensated by the strong storyline, and the splendidly beautiful costumes makeup.