This movie tells a deeply touching story about the self-exploration of Cheng Dieyi, who was sold to an opera troupe in his childhood and grew up with Gu Xiaolou, the one who later became his performing partner in the play Farewell My Concubine. Cheng Dieyi had a deep affection towards Gu Xiaolou, both in the play and in his real life. Being an extreme sentimentalist and idealist, Chen always imagined that Xiaolou would be forever loyal to him; and when this imagination failed with the appearance of a prostitute in Xiaolou's life, Cheng hurt Xiaolou and his life during the Cultural Revolution. 13 years later, when Dieyi and Xiaolou performed Farewell My Concubine again, Dieyi killed himself on the stage, using the sword Xiaolou handed to him. The complicated relationship between the three people is constantly intertwined within the big political environment of China. An engaging story about loyalty, affection, betrayal, and the tragic individual fate in politically tumulous China. ( )