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Analysis Of ' Farewell My Concubine ' By Lillian Lee

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The postcolonial period characterized the analysis of various gender roles as imposed in the overall theatrical convention regarding men who impersonated women in the Chinese films. In the film namely ‘’Farewell my Concubine,’’ gives a description of what initially started as something that meant well in artistic and cultural tradition of the east but was later turned into feminization of the genders in the society. Chen Kaige directed the movie in the year 1993. It is based on novel done by Lillian Lee. As such, the film follows the relationship that existed between two brothers and opera performers that acted on the stage. It also brings out the issue of how women were treated in the ancient Chinese cultures both socially and politically. In addition, the two stage brothers spent their childhood in an academy (Chen). Following the death of Chen, the lives of the major characters in the movie are tied to the happenings that took place in the twentieth century in the history of the Chinese people. Chen who was brought up to take care of the female roles in the society meets Duan and falls in love with him. However, the attraction he had towards her is not reciprocated. Rather, Duan decides to marry Juxian who was a courtesan. In most parts of the film, the relationship that existed between the brothers is emphasized as a form of true love. As such, various masculine and feminine issues are presented in the films that will be discussed in the following passages. In the

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