The Last Emperor

The Last Emperor. It is a 1987 epic biographical drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and written by Bertolucci and Mark Peploe. The film chronicles the life of Puyi, the final ruler of the Qing dynasty, from his ascension as a child to his later life as a private citizen in the People's Republic of China. A co-production between Italy, the United Kingdom, and China, it was groundbreaking for being the first Western feature film granted permission to shoot within the Forbidden City.

Plot

The narrative unfolds through a complex flashback structure, framed by Puyi's imprisonment and re-education in the Fushun War Criminals Management Centre in the 1950s. His memories trace his childhood coronation in the Forbidden City under the regency of the Empress Dowager Cixi, his isolated upbringing under the influence of his Scottish tutor Reginald Johnston, and his eventual expulsion following the Xinhai Revolution. The film depicts his futile reign as a puppet emperor of the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo, his capture by the Soviet Red Army at the end of World War II, and his eventual transformation into a gardener under the Chinese Communist Party.

Cast

The ensemble cast features John Lone as the adult Puyi, with Richard Vuu and Tijger Tsou portraying him as a child and adolescent, respectively. Joan Chen stars as his empress, Wanrong, and Peter O'Toole plays his tutor, Reginald Johnston. Key supporting roles include Ruocheng Ying as the prison governor, Victor Wong as Chen Baochen, Dennis Dun as Big Li, and Ryuichi Sakamoto as Amakasu Masahiko. Maggie Han appears as Yoshiko Kawashima, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa portrays Chang Ching-hui.

Production

The project was spearheaded by producer Jeremy Thomas and director Bernardo Bertolucci, who secured unprecedented access to film in the Forbidden City through negotiations with the Chinese government and the China Film Co-Production Corporation. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro shot the film in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, utilizing elaborate production designs by Ferdinando Scarfiotti and costumes by James Acheson. The score was a collaborative effort between Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, and Cong Su. Filming locations also included the Summer Palace and meticulously recreated sets at Cinecittà studios in Rome.

Release

The film premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival on October 4, 1987, before its Italian release on November 18 and its United States release by Columbia Pictures on November 20. A 219-minute television version was later broadcast, expanding the narrative. Its home media releases have been handled by various distributors, including The Criterion Collection, which issued a restored version.

Reception

Upon release, the film received widespread critical acclaim for its visual grandeur, narrative scope, and historical ambition. It performed solidly at the box office and became a major awards contender. At the 60th Academy Awards, it won all nine Oscars for which it was nominated, including Best Picture, Best Director for Bertolucci, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and the BAFTA Award for Best Film.

Historical accuracy

While based on Puyi's autobiography, From Emperor to Citizen, and extensive historical research, the film employs dramatic license for narrative cohesion. Scholars note the compression of events and the simplified portrayal of complex figures like Wanrong and Reginald Johnston. The depiction of Puyi's life in Manchukuo and his subsequent ideological rehabilitation has been both praised for its emotional truth and critiqued for its subjective perspective. The collaboration with Chinese authorities inevitably influenced certain portrayals of the Chinese Communist Party and the re-education process.