The Last Emperor (1987)

(On Cable TV, July 2019) While we think of the 1950s–1960s as the golden era of epic filmmaking, a few later examples show that the tradition kept going well afterwards. And frankly, “epic” is the kind of word that comes most naturally when discussing The Last Emperor, a film that heads to China in order to take us through fifty years of history as seen through the eyes of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, selected for the throne at the age of 2, treated like a demigod during his childhood, deposed, propped up as a fake leader of a fake country, disgraced by the communists, rehabilitated thanks to his remorsefulness and ultimately dying as a humble gardener. It’s quite a story, but The Last Emperor does have a compulsive watchability that keeps it interesting despite a generous running time. You may or may not want to use the lulls in the narrative to read through Pu Yi’s Wikipedia article for added context. For one thing, you will find the film generally exact but somewhat coy in its depiction of its protagonist. Yes, much of the incredible story told here is true to the facts, as mind-boggling as they are. On the other hand, Pu Yi was far more of a serial sadist and abuser than the film lets on. Flogging of servants was a regular hobby of his throughout much of his life, and some of the darker corners of his biography are simply horrifying (think twice about reading what happened to his first wife). The film, perhaps in an attempt to maintain audience sympathy, doesn’t delve too deep in those aspects. It may lead viewers to express far too much pity for a historical figure that didn’t deserve it. Still, The Last Emperor is directed with skill and manages to present a lightweight history lesson somewhat effectively. The recreation of life in the Forbidden City in the last years of the Chinese Empire is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the high production value keep up through the less glamorous years of Pu Yi’s life. It’s easy to see why the film walked away with nine Oscars—including two for writer-director Bernardo Bertolucci.