Reflection On The Movie Farewell My Concubine

The movie “Farewell My Concubine” is as engaging as it is rich with many elements of a compelling story, and impacts of Chinese history on art, especially opera. It is a story that can be understood on multiple levels.

Two significant parts of the story really touched me. One of them is the concept of complexity and problems in self-identification, and another point is betrayals among individuals and the forgiveness that comes after it. Firstly, I want to assert that the fact that Dieyi was supposed to play the female opera part as a concubine is used as a purpose to illustrate the power and constraints of art being faced in the real world, as it was traditionally common also in English theater in the past. As a result, I believe, Dieyi became the victim of particular and tragic circumstances. Furthermore, I am of the opinion that there was a kind of confusion made between fiction and reality in his mind. Due to conditions forced beyond the control of Dieyi such as, the difficulties and tortures he endured in the early stages in his life, he became the “concubine” and no longer himself. In my belief, this demonstrates the important point that how the circumstances one grows up in can form the entire life of a person. Just as Dieyi becomes obsessed with his role in the show, which controls and leads his real life and makes him undergo self-identification troubles. In this regard, one reason for my argument is that people are not born with an identity. Instead, what people associate with and attach themselves to in their life, eventually creates the identity of one.

In addition, from my point of view, conflicts between what you know and what you should do stands the reason for the problems and outcomes afterwards. For instance, Dieyi is supposed to recite a section in which he says, “I am by nature a girl. ” Being a boy, he would say “I am by nature a boy” and is cruelly punished for the failure. Secondly, the movie is outstanding in what it has to say about the concept of betrayals of Chinese people and forgiveness, as Dieyi and his stage friend Xiaolou instantly betray each other and break the trust between them. Also, Xiaolou betrays his wife after both stage actors being suppressed to a lot of torture and suffering. One reason I support this point is that these events symbolize the issues for the instant betrayals that emerged during the time when the Chinese new government oppressed people. Equally important, I am convinced that they signify the re-birth of a better life for Chinese people. Accordingly, Dieyi and Xiaolou forgive one another after all the unpleasant things they had spoken associated with anger and perform together in unity after eleven years of being apart. Additionally, I am obsessed with this part of the movie because it shows the message that human beings have the ability to get back together and rebuild trust the trust among themselves after betrayal comes to light, despite who is responsible for being right or wrong. Finally, I do not find it offensive that Xiaolou forgave his friend Dieyi after he disclosed the past of Juxian publicly bursting with anger, because the true measure of friendship involves trying to understand the perspective of your friend and work through difficulties including a betrayal.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that the life of Dieyi with all the sufferings and pain he went through, the leading consequences and failings were the result of circumstances beyond his control. Moreover, as individuals, we need to gain the ability to perceive our own limits and be aware that sometimes human beings can not fully control their fate. In addition, I also reached to the conclusion that any individual might experience some injustice and disloyalty in their lives and it might even take years before people reach the point where they forgive each other, which results to self-development and growth. In this regard, I believe it is essential that humans forgive and live their lives in peace and harmony. Meaning that, only when forgiveness becomes an objection for us, it will be easy for everyone to raise the value of their life, create and receive so much more.