The Last Emperor Showing at China Institute
The Last Emperor (1987), Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Runtime: 2 hours, 43 minutes
At the China Institute, 40 Rector St., 2nd Fl., Wed., Feb. 27, 6 pm, Tickets: $5.
The Last Emperor tells the story of the life of Pu Yi (John Lone), the last emperor of China, following the leader’s tumultuous reign. After being captured by the Red Army as a war criminal in 1950, Pu Yi recalls his childhood from prison. He remembers his lavish youth in the Forbidden City, where he was sheltered from the outside world and country's political situation. As revolution sweeps through China, the world Pu Yi knew is dramatically upended.
Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, and directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, the 1987 film offers a dramatically more modern look at Chinese life, earning the film 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It was the first Western feature film authorized by the People’s Republic of China to film in the Forbidden City in Beijing.
The film is in English.