The Last Emperor 3D Blu Ray 1987

The plot of the film is divided into two biographical lines - a description of the life of the former emperor of China and Manchukuo, and now a prisoner No. 981 of the Chinese prison, recalling the footage of his life, from childhood to being captured by Soviet troops in 1945.

1950. A train with prisoners arrives at the station.

In the waiting room, some of them recognize the former emperor and begin to bow to him. He retires to the toilet and opens his veins. His memories take him back to when, as a little boy, he was taken away from his mother and brought before his grandmother, the dying Empress Cixi. Entering his new cell, prisoner #9-8-1 (whose life was saved by the head of the prison) meets his younger brother Pu Jie there. He recalls how they played together, how, by order of the emperor's widows, his nurse Ar Mo was sent away from him forever, how he learned from his younger brother and servants that he remained emperor only in the Forbidden City, the limits of which he was not allowed to cross by guards.

He sees the President of China, who has arrived to inspect the Forbidden City, and throws stones at him. Soon the educator Johnston from England arrives to him. Pu Yi's craving for Western culture intensifies, he tries to be like a European and, after a fire, drives eunuch thieves out of the city.

Prisoner No. 981 is summoned for interrogation.

A hysterical young investigator and the head of the prison extract information from him about his collaboration with the Japanese occupiers. Pu Yi recalls how in 1924, after one of the coups, the soldiers expelled him, his two wives and the emperor's widows from the Forbidden City. He stays at a villa in Tianjin but after the start of the internecine war, he was forced to take refuge in the Japanese embassy. The younger wife of Wen Xiu is burdened by her position, she believes that according to Western concepts she is just a lover and runs away from Pu Yi, who does not give her a divorce. She is replaced by her cousin Pu Yi "Oriental Treasure", who accustoms her elder wife Wan Rong to opium.

Prisoner 981 claims that the Japanese kidnapped him and forcibly took him to Manchukuo. However, the investigators show him Johnston's book and confront Pu Yi's valet, exposing his lies. He recalls how he agreed to become the emperor of Manchuria, believing that he owes nothing to China (the new authorities desecrated and plundered the tombs of his ancestors). But, despite the outer shell of honor, ceremonies, court, he realizes that his power is only nominal, and the true ruler of Manchuria is the director of the court film studio, the one-armed Japanese Amakasu. Pu Yi's wife accuses her husband of that in his country the Japanese sell opium at every turn. She gives birth to a child by her chauffeur, but the Japanese kill the child and his father and take her away. At a meeting of the State Council, Pu Yi proclaims a declaration of mutual respect between Japan and Manchuria, after which all the senators leave the hall after Amakasu. The Japanese finally takes off his mask, exclaiming: "Asia belongs to us!" Pu Yi recalls Emperor Hirohito's radio address. The studio director puts a bullet in his head. The emperor hurries to the airfield, but at that moment, Wan Rong arrives, who has been turned into a shaking, half-witted old woman by opium. Soviet paratroopers land at the airfield and arrest Pu Yi.

The head of the prison notices that prisoner No. 981 is being served by other prisoners, isolates him and forces him to work. Pu Yi becomes a gardener. In 1959 he was released under an amnesty. In 1967, after a day's work in the winter garden, he goes to the market to his brother and sees a demonstration of the Red Guards, who are leading several "deviators" with them.

Among them, Pu Yi notices the head of the prison, who has not lost courage, tries to free him, but the youths push him to the side of the road. Later, he passes into the Forbidden City, buying a ticket at the entrance, and after talking with the watchman's son, rises to the throne, and then disappears unnoticed by him. A group of tourists enters the hall, the guide says, that the last Emperor Pu Yi died in 1967 in the movies The Last Emperor 3d blu ray.

I can say very little about The Last Emperor that hasn't been said already, though it is for me my favourite Bertolucci film along with Last Tango in Paris.

The Last Emperor is a visually opulent film. The cinematography is stunning, as are the scenery, editing, costumes and sets. In fact, it is one of the most visually beautiful films I've seen, and I've seen a lot. Not only that, it wonderfully juxtaposes the pre and pro-revolutionary Chinese worlds.

The music is beautiful and adds to the charm of the film as well as having an authentic flavour. Bertolucci's direction is superb, the story is engrossing and I rarely found it dull over the (almost) 3 hour duration and the dialogue is thought-provoking.

The acting is most excellent. John Lone is truly remarkable in the lead, it is a very difficult and multifaceted role and he copes brilliantly with it. Also remarkable, perhaps even more so, is the great Peter O'Toole, whose is very charming, graceful and eloquent.

Overall, a beautiful and arresting film, one I found myself admiring rather than adoring first time, but now it is becoming a favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox.