Regal Reflections: Analyzing the Epic Journey of The Last Emperor

The Last Emperor, 1987

Directed By: Bernardo Bertolucci

Link to Trailer

The film "The Last Emperor" follows Pu Yi's appointment as emperor at the age of three. He resides inside the Forbidden City and leads a protected life away from the rest of society. Pu Yi's power declines as China experiences political unrest, which results in his resignation in 1912. Pu Yi, who is still a teenager, comes to represent Chinese tradition during World War II, when China was ruled by the Japanese. He is taken prisoner by Soviet forces after Japan is defeated, and he is sent to the Chinese Communist Party. Pu Yi is imprisoned and retrained as he deals with the fallout from his wealthy background. 

The movie explores Pu Yi's complicated relationships, especially those with his wives and court officials. He becomes friends with a kind jailer while contemplating his life decisions, which causes him to reevaluate his identity and place in Chinese history. Pu Yi adjusts to a new world after being freed from captivity in the 1950s and starts working as a gardener in Beijing's Botanical Garden. His contacts with tourists and his adaptation to his new life as an average citizen are shown in the film's last scene. "The Last Emperor" explores issues of power, transformation, cultural change, and personal development.

In "The Last Emperor", there isn't a traditional plot device, which is usually an object or symbol that drives the plot forward but is not the central focus of the story. Instead, the film's narrative revolves around the life and experiences of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, as he navigates through historical and personal challenges.

The three main acts begin with the movie opening in 1908, when Pu Yi, then three years old, is chosen to succeed his predecessor as the future Emperor of China. The Forbidden City's early years of Pu Yi's life are portrayed, as are his solitude and interactions with his governesses. Pu Yi's influence and power declined when China experienced significant political changes, such as the Xinhai Revolution and the end of the Qing Dynasty. In 1912, he was ultimately forced to give up the crown. 

Pu Yi is given permission to stay in the Forbidden City but loses all of his imperial position. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he takes on the role of a puppet ruler. In the movie, Pu Yi struggles with the changing political environment while juggling his complicated relationships with his wife, Wanrong, and his associates. Pu Yi was taken prisoner by Soviet forces following World War II and given to the Chinese Communist Party. Under Chairman Mao Zedong, China is undergoing a drastic transition, and he faces jail time and punishment. 

Due to being imprisoned, Pu Yi has had time to consider his previous deeds and his place in Chinese history. He develops a friendship with a sympathetic prisoner who aids him in accepting his history and the evolving world. By the time he is freed in the 1950s, Pu Yi has gone from being an isolated monarch to a man looking for a new identity in a changed and unsettling China.

The main character change that I noticed in the film was in Pu Yi. Pu Yi's innocence as a little child is shown in the film's opening moments as he is given the title of emperor. He is not aware of the societal and political shifts going on around him. As he grows older, he becomes more conscious of his limited influence as well as the changes happening in China. During World War II, Pu Yi goes from being an emperor with authority to a puppet ruler under Japanese rule. With this change, he is forced to face his minimizing influence and status manipulation. Pu Yi struggles with his identity throughout his voyage. After being freed from captivity, he changes from being the emperor to a commoner. This change forces him to reevaluate who he is as a person in addition to being a king and to think about his place in modern China.

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