Parents' Guide to

The Last Emperor

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Beautiful Chinese biography is too long, mature for tweens.

Movie PG-13 1987 218 minutes
The Last Emperor Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

sandra D.
sandra D. Parent
May 28, 2016
age 13+

a beautiful portrait of old China, its fall, and the rise of its modern Communist state- watch it WITH your younger child

This is a film to watch WITH YOUR CHILD, so you can discuss interesting or intense issues as you go. It is a beautiful film which captures the dramatic changes of ancient, imperial China, through its brief turn-of-Century Republic days, into mid-Century Communist life. I chose it to make history more real to my 13 year old, so she could see & feel the opulence (rooms decorated ceiling to floor with gold and red, ladies similarly adorned), grandeur, and incredible slavish obedience to one person who is God-on-Earth solely for luck of birth. It is chock-full of teaching moments! Yes, a young child breast-feeds his wet-nurse, but the world-wide average wage of weaning is 4 years old, so TALK ABOUT IT with your child (cultural norms, why was he attached to her as mother, why was his real mother stolen from him??). Some issues were too violent for my family, but I simply did not bring it up (like the fact of 100's of eunichs- I did not point it out as i did not wish to expose my daughter to the horror of how these boys were mutilated). Much of the politics will go over your child's head, so I recommend you review your study of the politics and cultural issues of the time yourself: British cultural & political invasion to China, intentional addiction of the Chinese to opium, the deep reverence boys & men held for their ponytails & why it's so dramatic that Yi Pu cut off his; the lack of any choice in the face of obedience to custom, the role of (and options available to) women & girls (wife, slave, servant, courtesan). There are so many RICH TEACHING MOMENTS in this film. HOWEVER, STRONG VIOLENCE is present in the scene where a gun is placed to the temple of the male prisoner (blood & gore gushing from his head). I did NOT let my child view that scene. The lesbian sex scene involves opium and toe-sucking: for my family, it's a teaching moment about the seductiveness of drugs, need to be wary of other's motives, and how easy it is to ruin one's life by using (see the end of First Wife's story). You might choose to skip that scene. All in all, a beautiful film and, in my opinion, great for older tweens (12ish) and up, IF you watch with them (and skip over any scenes that don't work for your family). Older teens should be fine- you know your child best!
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What's the Story?

From the age of three in 1908, when he is crowned Emperor of China, Pu Yi lives through the turbulent, vastly changing world of twentieth century China. During his early days he is worshipped, indulged as the child-leader of his people. Political events force him in his teen years to the Forbidden City where, as the exiled sovereign, he lives the same pampered life with no real power. Again political changes move him, this time to Manchuria, where he is a puppet of the Japanese as they prepare to launch what will be World War II. At the end of the war, a nearly broken man, he is captured and sent to a prison camp, held by the Chinese Communists as a war criminal. THE LAST EMPEROR follows Pu Yi, his supporters, his betrayers, his lovers, and his own growing conscience as his personal story reveals the story of China itself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

The winner of nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Last Emperor is a stunning example of an historical movie of outstanding quality. Director Bernardo Bertolucci and his team have successfully managed to create an intensely personal movie, humanizing a culture with a thoughtful and provocative depiction of a man at its center. The sets and costumes are opulent and magnificent. There are countless beautifully-shot sequences. It's a big movie in every way: detailed and accurate, a vibrant spectacle that would probably cost too much to make in the 21st century. It's also a very long movie and might prove tedious to some viewers. However, it's time well spent as it unites the historical and the emotional as few other films have.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's style. How did the back-and-forth structure, from the prison camp to the past, help you understand what happened to Pu Yi?

  • What events were most significant in changing Pu Yi's view of the world?

  • This film is an example of moving-making that increases our knowledge and interest in history and other cultures. What other movies have you seen that have been able to do that? What resources are available to you if you want to learn more?

  • Why do you think the director and artists used the color red so extensively in the sets, costumes, and scenery? What feelings does it evoke?

Movie Details

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