The Last Emperor

(Bernardo Bertolucci, China/Italy/UK/France 1987, 163 min., 35mm, English, Mandarin, Japanese, & Russian w/subtitles)

Vittorio Storaro. Winner of eight Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, this Bertolucci epic details the life of Pu Yi, crowned China’s final emperor at age three. He endures a lifetime of restrictions, entrapped within the confines of the Forbidden City. A gorgeous and compelling tale of one man’s struggle with both tradition and social upheaval, The Last Emperor provides a unique perspective on 20th-century China. Shot by Vittorio Storaro in vibrantly colored widescreen, revealed in full glory in this rare and beautiful 35mm print.