The Last Emperor Review

A train pulls into a station in Manchuria. Guards herd a bedraggled group of men into a waiting room. In a bathroom, one man attempts suicide. Thus begins Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 film, "The Last Emperor." Bertolucci's film chronicles the life of Pu Yi, final ruler of the Manchu dynasty, from his childhood in the 1910s to his death in 1967. Through stunning footage, it exquisitely captures the lack of power Pu Yi had over his life, being moved from prison to prison. However, the ending of the film definitely leaves something to be desired. For most of the film, the plot consists of flashbacks between youth and middle age in a Communist Chinese prison. However, near the end, once we are completely in Pu Yi's middle age, the film rapidly loses pace and coherence. Frankly, Pu Yi's life as a gardener simply isn't interesting. After all the grandeur and excitement of his youth, we are left feeling cheated, thinking, "That's it?" In addition, the last scene, where a tour guide gives the date of Pu Yi's death, feels forced and unnecessarily tacked on. Altogether, though, most of the film is quite well done. Bertolucci expertly gives viewers a glimpse into a little-known period of Chinese history. Although quite imperfect, "The Last Emperor" is nonetheless a marvel for the eyes.