Farewell, My Concubine

scenes cut from the U. S. release of the film

compiled by Michael Kim (leda@imsa.edu)
[ go back to my movie reviews ]

Needless to say, there are spoilers present. If you haven't yet seen the movie, proceed with extreme caution.

All dialogue is taken from the English translation present on the Hong Kong DVD release. It is presented here for informational purposes only; no copyright infringement is intended.

News (10 Dec 1999) - Miramax's Region 1 DVD release of "Farewell" is the director's (international) cut!

Deleted Scenes:

1. After Laizi's death, Douzi and Shitou mourn next to the coffin. We see the coffin being carted away. (1:24)

2. We see Douzi being carried atop the servant's back to Old Man Zhang's quarters (0:09)

3. During the "deflowering scene" with Old Man Zhang, after the woman leaves, until "Come here." Douzi urinates into a vase, as the old man looks on, getting quite excited. (0:21)

4. After Cheng and Duan are accosted by rioting students, after the photo session. They are being carted through the streets on handcarts. Na Kun is following, on foot. They discuss first the student revolutionaries, and then the incident at Old Man Zhang's house. We are reminded of the sword. (0:51)

5. After Cheng and Duan meet Yuan Shiqing for the first time, and Cheng is presented with jewelry. Brief dialogue as Yuan and then Duan leave the room. (0:19)

6. After Cheng and Duan argue in the makeup room, right before Juxian leaves the House of Blossoms. Juxian watches a performance of "Farewell". (0:55)

7. After Cheng and Duan argue during the "engagement" scene, right before Cheng tucks the baby Xiao Si into bed. Yuan presents Cheng with an elaborate pheasant headdress in his dressing room. (0:51)

8. After Japan's march into Beijing, right before Duan gets into a fight with the Japanese. Another opera scene. (1:31)

9. Scene of Cheng singing to Japanese continues, right before Duan is released. Interior shots, Cheng holding a fan. (0:47)

10. More graphic detail in the bloodletting scene, where the turtle's neck is sliced to make soup (?)

11. Brief shot of Duan caressing Juxian's cheek, right after Cheng and Yuan makeup scene.

12. After our first glance of Cheng smoking opium, right before Cheng and Duan visit their old teacher. Cheng steps out of his home, smoking and looking quite listless. He chokes as a car passes. Then we see Juxian showing a group of Duan's friends to the exit of their home. (2:02)

13. After Juxian visits Cheng in his cell, just before trial. Beginning of the trial dialogue cut, where Peking Opera is described as "pornographic music", and the formal charges of collusion with the Japanese Officer, Aoki, are described. (0:43)

14. Later, in the same trial scene, after Na's "testimony", Yuan rebuts the idea of Peking Opera as "pornographic music". (1:01)

15. After the communists march into Beijing, Cheng and Duan are performing "Farewell" to an audience of communist troops. This scene cuts into what seems to be one large crowd scene in the U.S. release -- everything depicting Xiao Si (the foundling) skipping through the streets of Beijing comes after this scene.(1:52)

16. After Juxian's suicide, and before we cut to the present day, we get a short scene where the traitorous Xiao Si seems to get his due. He is sitting alone with the case of jewelry given Cheng by Yuan, and singing from "Farewell". Behind him, communist troops begin to file in, and Xiao Si is startled to see them in the mirror. One of them approaches and hands him what seems to be some sort of summons. (1:11)