The Last Emperor

Pu Yi is born into a dynasty that crowns him as a child and binds him to a throne that will outlive him. The film follows his early days as the symbolic ruler of the Forbidden City, then tracks how shifting empires and a collapsing world intrude on a life defined by ceremony and restraint. As decades pass, the man who wore the crown finds himself maneuvered by warlords, reformers, and foreign powers, his authority waning while his private life grows more tangled. The story widens to show a China in upheaval, where tradition and modern power collide, offering a portrait of a figure shaped by history and the choices forced upon him, it's a life defined by ceremony and restraint. The film keeps a careful measured distance.

Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and released in 1987, the film is a lavish drama about Pu Yi. The screenplay, by Bertolucci with Mark Peploe and Enzo Ungari, draws on Pu Yi's life and the historical forces shaping it, with meticulous design.

It grossed about 44 million worldwide against a budget of 23.8 million, aided by its prestige cast and international release, a level of performance that helped it gain lasting international recognition. Its international release drew audiences beyond art house circles.

The Last Emperor helped bring a grand scale historical epic to Western audiences and sparked renewed interest in China's modern history and cinema. Its scale and production values inspired later epics, and its visual splendor plus cross cultural casting left a lasting impression on how empires are depicted on screen.

Critics praised its ambition and Bertolucci's direction while noting the film's theatrical scope and rich production design. The work examines how power, tradition, and identity collide under pressure, offering a nuanced look at a man caught between a crumbling empire and a changing world. The film invites reflection on power.