Farewell My Concubine is set against the volatile and violent political tapestry of China from 1924 to 1977. Shitou and the homosexual Douzi meet at the Peking opera training school and become close friends. When Shitou marries, Douzi feels betrayed. This visually stunning film, directed by Chen Kaige, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intricacies and mysteries of Chinese opera.