From his childhood succession to the throne, teenage self discovery, young adult empowerment, and navigating life choices, this film is that’s showcases the stages of the life of the last emperor of China Pu Yi. Taking the throne at the age of 3 and losing real power at 10, the emperor remains as a figurehead of the Forbidden City. When an English tutor arrives, Pu Yi’s world is expanded to life outside of the walls that blockade him from the world beyond the wall. With a broader perspective of ideals, the emperor decides to reform the Forbidden City of the old eunuchs and reduce corruption. After changing the city he desperately wanted to leave for the better, he is kicked out. Pu Yi makes a connection with the Japanese and becomes the puppet emperor of Manchuria but this again does not last long. The ending is bittersweet as a young boy meets an older Pu Yi in the now tourist location in the Forbidden City. It shows that years may change, but the challenges never really do as they take on a new face or name.

The Last Emperor is a good film to illuminate court life, privelage, the intricases of ancient Chinese Forbidden City, and the events that lead to the Peoples Republic of China. I found it interesting that when choosing a tutor for the young impressionable student, the selection was for a scholarly Englishman. Not only was Pu Yi tutored by an Englishman, but is preselected wife was tutored by an American. The notion of idealized western culture is present through the second half of the film from the clothing and the music. I can see how this picture won nine Oscars especially for its cinematography. The film exudes the classics 1940s film angles as well as the dramatics. It is visually stunning with the colors, architecture, and scale of extras.

The greatest takeaway I had from the film was Pu Yi’s search for importance as well as self empowerment. This man spent his life trying to live a purposeful life and be apart of a change. As a teacher, it reminds me of the role we play in our students goal of self empowerment. We push our students until they take the reigns themselves. Living a purposeful life is a lesson that can be taught every single day to those willing to listen.

This three-and-a-half-hour movie begins with Pu Yi in prison after being captured by the Red Army as a war criminal. He then recounts his childhood as Emperor of China where the viewer gets a glimpse of his privileged, yet sheltered life. During his reign as Emperor, Pu Yi was not permitted to leave the Forbidden City and was uninformed of the events occurring outside of the city walls. In various scenes early in the movie, Pu Yi laments that he wants to leave the Forbidden City, and wants to have his own opinion and voice, but is unable to do so. In 1912, when the Emperor abdicated the thrown, he remained in the Forbidden City and pushed for reform. Eventually he was driven out of the Forbidden City and sought refuge in Manchuria which was under Japanese control and became a puppet ruler.

The video in its entirety would not be appropriate to show in a secondary classroom due to scenes with nudity. However, there are scenes that could be effectively used in the classroom. Scenes throughout the movie show the majestic nature of the Forbidden City, since the director was granted permission to film on location. Additionally, the costumes and make-up depict the various positions throughout the Forbidden City. One interesting costume piece is seen in scenes such as when the Emperor is being shown pictures of possible brides, the woman is wearing nail covers which symbolizes a position of high status since long nails were a symbol that the woman did not have to work. This can also be seen in the early scene depicting Empress Dowager Cixi and her death. Later in the film, scenes with the Red Guard and propaganda could be used within the classroom.