The Last Emperor Film Review

I first saw The Last Emperor when it was released in 1987. At the time I remember thinking that there was probably so much more to this retelling of one person’s life. Having taken this seminar and read so much of the literature of Asia has helped me to better understand the politics of China – both ancient, recent, and current. The title of the movie is ironic as the emperor, Pu Yi, is really emperor of nothing. There was no power to go with his title and he was not even a figurehead to represent his people to the world as emperors, kings, queens, etc. do around the world. Pu Yi is portrayed as both a pawn and victim, acted upon, exploited for the purposes of others, valued for what he wasn't rather than for what he was.
Through montages and flashbacks, we are allowed to view scenes of his childhood in the Forbidden City as we navigate through scenes from his later life as the audience is asked to interpret and fit pieces of information together to make sense of a political life that is held hostage due to modern politics. We see Pu Yi treated as other citizens of China when the communists take control – he is also sent to a re-education camp where his birthright is taken from him and he is treated as one of the many. His years in the re-education camp take him from being an emperor – someone born into a position of authority without question and no one to answer to – to being a commoner, a gardener, where he appears to find some level of happiness and personal satisfaction.