The Big Picture
- Film Movement has undertaken the task of restoring the Chinese classic Farewell My Concubine to its original 171-minute length, after it had 20 minutes cut by Harvey Weinstein when it was brought to American audiences 30 years ago.
- The practice of unilaterally cutting parts of international films, as Weinstein did with Farewell My Concubine without input from others, has been a common occurrence in the movie industry.
- New York film enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see the film’s 30th anniversary cut, presented in 4K with a new poster highlighting the original vision and cast of the film.
Despite committing more serious crimes, Harvey Weinstein’s influence on the movie industry remains. However, some films that Weinstein tampered with can now be revisited and presented as they were intended. One such film is the Chinese classic Farewell My Concubine, which lost 20 minutes of its final cut when it was brought to American audiences 30 years ago. Film Movement has announced an unedited 4K restoration of the film exclusively with IndieWire.
While studios and producers typically have the final say on a film’s theatrical cut, there is usually some discussion regarding what should be included in the final version. However, when it comes to international films bought by American producers, decisions are often made unilaterally without any input from the original creators. Figures like Weinstein would decide what parts of the film should be cut based on their assumptions about audience preferences, without considering the impact on the film’s artistic integrity.
The case of Farewell My Concubine is particularly perplexing as the unedited 171-minute version had already received positive feedback from audiences. The film was a standout at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993, winning the prestigious Palme d’Or and becoming the only Chinese film to receive this honor.
New York film lovers will have the unique opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Farewell My Concubine on the big screen this September. Film Movement will present the film’s full-length version, restored in 4K, at Film Forum. Directed by Kaige Chen (Legend of the Demon Cat), the film explores the cultural changes and challenges to gender traditions in early 20th century China, making it a timely theme even today.
In an official statement, Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg praised the legacy of Farewell My Concubine and highlighted the restoration’s impact:
“‘Farewell My Concubine’ is truly one of the most influential films of the 20th Century. We are pleased to bring one of the landmark achievements of China’s fifth-generation filmmaking movement to the big screen in this incredible 4K restoration which not only brings the lavish sets and costumes to rich life as never before, but also restores Kaige’s original, unedited vision for his film.”
The 30th anniversary restoration of Farewell My Concubine is accompanied by a stunning new poster that evokes the aesthetic of the Criterion Collection. The poster showcases the film’s iconic make-up and costume designs and prominently showcases the names of the main cast, a departure from past decades where non-anglicized names were often omitted. The cast includes Gong Li (Mulan), Leslie Cheung (Happy Together), and Fengyi Zhang (Red Cliff).
Film Movement will screen Farewell My Concubine at Film
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
