Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Composer
David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Cong Su
Cast
John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole
Edition 1999
163'
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1987
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Historical, Drama, Biography
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Dialogue:
Mandarin, English, Japanese
This is the story of Pu Yi, the last ruler of the Chinese Ching Dynasty. The film covers the years 1908 to 1967. We see the 3-year-old Pu Yi being installed in the Forbidden City by ruthless, dying dowager Empress Tzu-Hsui. Though he'd prefer to lark about like other boys, the infant emperor is cosseted and cajoled into accepting the responsibilities and privileges of his office. In 1912 the young emperor - forced to abdicate when China is declared a republic - is a prisoner in his own palace, “protected” from the outside world. Pu Yi plots an escape from his cocoon by means of marriage. He selects Manchu descendant Wan Jung, who likewise is anxious to experience the 20th century rather than be locked into the past by tradition.
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Credits
Directors
Bernardo Bertolucci
Composers
David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Cong Su
Cast
John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole
Scenario
Bernardo Bertolucci, Enzo Ungari, Mark Peploe
Director of Photography
Vittorio Storaro
Editors
Gabriella Cristiani
Producers
Jeremy Thomas
More info
Dialogue
Mandarin, English, Japanese
Countries of production
Italy, China, United Kingdom, France
Screenplay based on
"From Emperor to Citizen, The Autobiography of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi" (Pu Yi)
Year
1987
Filmography
Bernardo Bertolucci
The Death of a Pig (short, 1956), The Cable (short, 1956), The Grim Reaper (1962), Before the Revolution (1964), Il canale (short, 1966), Partner (1968), Amore e rabbia (1969), The Conformist (1970), The Spider's Stratagem (1970), La salute è malata (short, 1971), Last Tango in Paris (1972), 1900 (1976), Luna (1979), Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981), Farewell to Enrico Berlinguer (1984), The Last Emperor (1987), 12 Directors for 12 Cities (1989), The Sheltering Sky (1990), Little Buddha (1993), Stealing Beauty (1996), Besieged (1998), Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002), The Dreamers (2003), Me and You (2012), Venice 70: Future Reloaded (2013)
