The Last Emperor is a movie based in ancient China, directed by Bernardo Bertoculli, and the main actor was Pu Yi. Other important actors in the movie include the governor, Wan Jun, Pi Yu’s wife, Reginald Johnstone, Amakasu, Eastern Jewel, and Empress Dowager (Bertolucci, 1987). Released in 1987, the movie has won nine awards, including; best picture, costume design, direction, art direction, editing, cinematography, writing, sound, and music.
The movie’s viewpoint is Pi Yu’s life, whereby through reflection, the viewers can watch his lavish life in the Forbidden City before he was upended in prison for ten years. That is why the movie uses intercut scenes between his childhood life and the adult life of the Emperor. The Last Emperor shows the transition of China from feudalism and the use of revolution to its current state. It displays various themes, including social reforms and the powerless ruler (Bertolucci, 1987). In embracing the social reforms, Pi Yu adopted exiling eunuchs as the punishment for corruption in the palace. The movie also depicts the theme of the powerless ruler when they show how Pi Yu is unable to move out of the city gates like other children of his age because his guards deny him the opportunity.
The last Emperor has various historical inaccuracies because all its details are not authentic. It supports the communist party’s decision to give a three-year-old child power to rule China. The ruler spends nine years in a prison camp where he is taught to work as a gardener and later works happily in Beijing (Bertolucci, 1987). However, this information contradicts the information given by surviving witnesses that the camps are inhuman and different from what is shown in the movie.
This movie has great information about ancient China. It shows important events in the revolution, such as re-education in prisons and so on. However, the movie may have some propaganda that may mislead viewers in advancing their knowledge of historical themes.
Reference
Bertolucci, B. (1987). The Last Emperor [Film]. Hemdale Film Corporation