Who are you?
We're with the opera troupe.
Oh, I didn't recognize you!
I'm a great fan of you both.
Is that so? Thank you.
It's been over twenty years since you performed together, hasn't it?
Twenty-one.
Twenty-two.
Yes, twenty-two years.
And it's been ten years since we last saw each other.
Eleven. Eleven years.
that's right, eleven years. Yes.
It's due to the Gang of Four and the Cultural Revolution.
Right!
Yeah, that's right.
Things are better now.
that's for sure.
Everything's fine now.
Please, wait here a moment. I'll go turn on the lights.
Sorry to trouble you.
1924 BEIJI NG - THE WARLORD ERA
Yanhong, is that you? I've really missed you.
Whore!
Ladies and gentlemen,
enjoy the show!
You, cunning asshole!
Laizi is trying to run away again. Brat! See how far you get!
Quick, go catch him!
I'm sorry.
Gentlemen, please be patient.
Trash ! how dare you show yourselves around here?
Fuck you all !
Just as sure as my name is Shitou. . .
I'll give you something to look at.
What are you screaming for? I haven't even said hello yet!
You're a disgrace to the opera troupe.
You couldn't even play a monkey right.
Thought you'd get away with that brick act, didn't you?
It's garbage.
Sharpen your knives!
This child isn't fated to be an actor.
Not with that extra finger.
He have a good face, but he can't.
Sharpen your knives!
I can afford to raise him. . .
but he's getting too big to keep at the brothel.
If only you take him, you can do anything you like.
Don't look down on us.
don't be foolish. Prostitutes and actors
are equally despised by society.
Just go away.
Ma, my hands are freezing. They feel like ice.
Ma!
Get away from us, you son of a whore!
It's from the whore house! Drop it on the foor!
Are you bullying him?
Come over here. Sleep with me!
You're really something !
Laizi, go snuggle up with the Little Monk.
Catch !
It's so cold outside. . .
the piss froze on the tip of my dick.
I nearly turned a somersault!
If you belong to the human race, you go to the opera.
Pigs and dogs don't listen to opera.
If you don't go to the opera,
you're not a human being.
And where there's opera, there's work for us actors!
Stop squealing !
Straighten that back!
If you think you're above everyone else. . .
you'll learn the hard way. This is just the beginning.
Don't worry, Douzi.
We're already half way through.
Shitou, are you helping someone cheat?
Master, I was looking up. I didn't notice what was on the floor.
Bullshit! Get me my sword.
And hurry up!
Get up!
Don't you have something to say?
Yes. Forming cliques is prohibited and wi'll be punished.
He's not fucking scared of anything.
From the time opera began. . .
It's never enjoyed such popularity as it does today!
You're lucky to be part of it!
We are!
Heavens will... not a lack of material skill. . .
I've been practicing kung fu
to keep myself warm.
It's cool out side, quite cool.
But I've become a man of fire. Get away from me.
I am so strong, I can uproot the Mountains. .
My courage is renowned
I've fallen on bad times
Yet even my horse Won't run away to save itself.
These are our rules. We must learn them well.
From ancient times, man has needed a skill.
If you devote yourself to this, you'll get paid off.
Now go off and practice!
Let's hear Fleeing by Night.
I look back at the Celestial Court and hurry on wards in fight. . .
Heedless of. . . heedless of. . .
Heedless of what?
Heedless of loyalty and filial piety.
I am so strong, I can uproot the mountains.
Yet even my horse Won't run away to save itself.
And my beloved concubine, what shall I do about her?
Excellent, not a word out of place. Give me your hand.
This is so you'll remember to do as well the next time.
I am a nun. .
At sixteen I am a nun. My hair is shorn at youth's prime.
Go on.
I am by nature a boy...
You are by nature a girl !
I'll punish you, Laizi ! You still can't get it right, can you?
Don't hit me! I won't do it again !
I am. . . I am by nature. . .
Spit it out!
I am by nature a boy. . .
Is a nun a male or a female?
A. . .
A boy. . .
You really are in character. You can't even tell male from female.
I-l-l am by nature a boy. . .
You've forgotten everything the master has taught you!
Do it again, and I'll beat you within an inch of your life.
You'd better remember this.
If by chance I'm beaten to death tomorrow. . .
The three copper coins hidden under my mattress.
Careful !
Don't water your hand !
Douzi, in a few days, you'll be initiated into the troupe.
Just pretend you're a girl, and don't mess up the lyrics again.
Laizi, have you ever eaten sweet pea cakes?
Whats the big deal about sweet peacakes?
How about millet rolls?
Basin cakes?
The're about as fucking special as dog farts.
So what do you like?
There's nothing yummier than a stick of candied crab apples.
If I make it big, I'll eat candied crab apples every day for dinner.
Candied crab apples for sale! Candied crab apples for sale!
Don't look at us like that. We're not sticks of apple.
Laizi, you're drooling !
Laizi, What the hell are you doing?
Wow, so many big kites!
Douzi, we got only 2 days to go.
Run for it!
Come back!
Douzi ! we got 2days. .
Don't forget the money under my pillow.
You're worthless. Get out of my sight!
Where'd you get that?
Forget Shitou. I'm spending your money now.
Ten apples on each stick. I'll give you two.
What's wrong with you?
I have to pee real bad.
Not in the middle of the street.
It's Manager Wang !
The stars have arrived ! here, come this way.
My dear sir, this is like a visit from heaven !
All you need to do is sneeze and you get a standing ovation.
Thanks for coming here.
We'll be lucky if no one is trampled to death in there!
I'll sit on your shoulders for a while, then you sit on mine.
The king ! It's the King of Chu!
What does it take to become a star?
How many beatings?
When I'll ever enjoy such fame?
You're pissing all over me! Are you nuts?
I knew you'd go back. You couldn't live without Shitou!
We're going to get a taste of the sword. But I'm not afraid.
For me, it's like having an itch scratched.
I've eaten my candied crab apple. I'm a fucking star already.
You little runts, you've come back after all.
Good ! I deserve it! Good ! I deserve it!
Why the hell did you Let them go?
Die you runts!
Skipping class and running away must be punished !
Master, I'll never do it again. Please let me go!
You let them get away? Assholes!
Master!
I wouldn't dare do it again, master. I was wrong.
Beat me instead !
Didn't you think youd get yours? I'll kill you!
Douzi, speak! Say something !
Beg for mercy! Say he's beaten you well !
Speak! Let's just disband the troupe!
Youre killing Douzi !
I won't let you do this!
Master Guan !
Laizi, he-
This opera tells the story of war between the Chu and han kings.
What sort of a man was the King of Chu?
A peerless and invincible hero. . .
a bold and resourceful general capable of defeating vast armies.
But fate wasn't on his side.
At Gaixia he was outwitted. . .
by the Han king.
As they prepared for battle, Han's troops sang victory songs. . .
because of Han's military tatics,
the Chu armies fed in a great panic
had their country taken by Han.
Even the king was weeping.
No matter how resourceful you are. . .
you can't fight fate.
The king had once been all-powerful, but in the end. . .
all he had left was one woman and one horse.
He tried to get his steed to run away, but it wouldn't go.
he wanted his concubine to free, but she wouldn't.
For the very last time, Concubine poured wine for her king. . .
and danced for him with a sword. . .
then cut her throat with it,
to keep her fidelity.
Theres a lesson in this story for all of us. . .
that each person is responsible for his or her own fate.
You better keep that in your mind.
I am so strong, I can uproot the Mountains
My courage is renowned
I've fallen on bad times
Yet even my horse won't run away to save itself
Old Man Zhang has commissioned you to hire an opera troupe.
I truly congratulate you.
With your patronage, the children will have new clothes to wear.
Good opera, however, is not so simple.
When he was a palace eunuch. . .
Old Man Zhang attended operas with the Empress Dowager herself.
I could lose a lot of respect. But that's nothing.
You realize that if the performance doesn't make the grade...
This kids got something.
How long he's been in training?
Douzi, come here
and pay your respects.
he's got a nice little figure too.
Can you sing any old-style operas?
Yes, two.
Fleeing by Night is for male and outside the Nunnery is for female...
Let's hear a bit of the last.
At sixteen I am a nun. . .
my hair shorn at youths prime.
Yet I am by nature a boy,
not a girl...
Why-
Mr. Na, I am terribly sorry!
he's usually very good.
Master Guan, I'll see you some other time.
Open your mouth. open it!
You've screwed it up for all of us!
I'll teach you.
I am by nature a girl,
At sixteen I am a nun. . .
my hair shorn at youths prime.
Yet I am by nature a girl, not a boy.
Why must I wear these sexless robes?
I see the joyful couples pass. . .
in their splendid brocades.
Despite myself, desire burns in my heart. . .
Year after year All over the land
I've followed my king on his military campaigns
enduring the wind And frost and hard toil. .
Our people are fallen into abyss of misery. .
This little boy. . .
Master Guan. . .
Mr. Zhang, may you live as long as South Mountain.
The king is here.
Your highness
The people have suffered untold hardship and pain
this is an old man Zhan's special
reward for two kids.
So take this.
Yes, sir!
The Chu king would have won with this sword !
If I were emperor, then you'd be queen of the palace.
Take that sword.
Careful, kidys!
That's a real blade!
No need to run !
What's wrong?
The sweat stings the scratchs
Have them go together.
No way. It's an old rule around here.
Master Guan, I'm sorry if you don't understand.
The concubine has to die one way or the other.
Isn't it so?
Master?
Douzi !
What year is this?
This is. . . this is 1932.
Wrong ! This is still the Ching dynasty!
Come over here.
I. . . I want to find Shitou.
I need to pee.
Pee into this.
Don't waste it. just pee into this.
Come to me!
Douzi !
What's happened to you?
Have you gone dumb? Speak to me!
Douzi.
Fate has determined each of our lots.
Leave him to his destiny.
All right, look at the camera!
Gentlemen, you have done grandly for yourselves.
You look so dignified and stunning in any style of clothing.
That's it!
Oppose Japans invasion of North China!
Damn ! It's those students again.
1937 ON THE EVE OF WAR WITH JAPAN
Down with Japanese imperialism!
Are'nt they the opera actors?
How can you put on make up and sing opera at a time like this?
Have you no feeling for your country?
We're Chinese too, Chinese to the core!
Look at us, goddamn it!
Chinese mustn't fight among themselves!
we're all Chinese here!
And don ' t you forget it!
How dare they pretend to be patriotic!
Why don't they go out and fight the Japanese soldiers?
Cause you're penniless for women and marriage. .
Do something !
You just want to find a way out...
The one who was yelling the loudest would make a good actor.
Remember the first time we performed Farewell, My Concubine?
Only you remember that kind of thing.
I know.
It was your lucky day for you.
Back then it was...
I went there yesterday.
I know you've been looking
for the sword, but it's long gone.
Long life for Deyie!
Candied crab apples for sale!
We've got a sea of people.
They're craning their necks to catch a glimpse of their idols.
Even master Yuan is here to see you. It's a great honor for us.
Go away! Go away!
Mr. Duan. . .
They're becoming impatient, please hurry!
Trust me.
They won't feel like they are wasting their money.
Year after year all over the land
I've followed my king on his military campaigns
You be the judge. Has he not blurred
I hate only the lawless tyrant Who plunged our people. . .of misery
the distinction between theater and. . . male and female?
He is now at the level of. .
Your highness
Ive caused you
So much grief
So, Master Yuan has come to see us tonight.
I know. I sang so loudly,
I drowned out the horns.
I'll show him how great we are without his patronage. .
But Duan. .
Don't worry.
At key moments. . .
I squeezed my waist with my hands. . .
so it hurts. .
here?
Master Yuan !
It's an honor.
You deserve this.
the Empress Dowager herself. . .
never bestowed such a gift
upon her favorite actors.
Master Yuan, how can our Dieyi be worthy of your favor?
Farewell, My Concubine has a long history.
It evolved from the old-style opera Story of the Precious one.
Many famous actors have fallen down in this role.
I've never seen an actor
as great as you are.
Impressive.
For a moment or two. . .
this Yuan fellow was so entranced. . .
He believed Concubine Yu had actually come back to life!
Master Duan. . .
When the king returns to camp and meets Concubine Yu. . .
custom has it-
He takes seven steps. You take but five.
If the King of Chu fails to bear himself with majestic dignity. . .
He's little better than a gangster putting on airs!
Master Yuan, you are a master of the theater arts.
You are an expert in all the varieties and facets of opera.
I may probably be
as you say.
Please give us the benefit of your advice and criticism.
If it's not beneath you,
I'd like to invite you. . . to my humble home for some wine.
There is still so much to be said about this opera.
Im terribly sorry, Master Yuan.
I've another drinking engagement... with a courtesan.
With a courtesan...