The Last Emperor

In 1950, a train arrives at a North China station surrounded by soldiers. This train is transporting prisoners who have been classified as war criminals, setting the stage for a tense atmosphere filled with uncertainty.

Among the prisoners, four men rise and bow to Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. This unexpected reverence makes Pu Yi uncomfortable, prompting him to seek solace in a nearby bathroom.

Inside the locked bathroom, Pu Yi, consumed by despair, fills a sink with hot water and attempts suicide by slitting his wrists. His blood mingles with the water, symbolizing his internal turmoil and disconnection from his past.

As the prison governor pounds on the door, demanding entry, Pu Yi's thoughts drift back to 1908. There, the young Pu Yi is taken to the Forbidden City for his coronation, where he faces the weight of being emperor at just three years old.

During the ceremonial investiture, the Empress Dowager Cixi declares Pu Yi as the new emperor. Despite the grandeur of the occasion, young Pu Yi is overwhelmed and sobs as he is handed over to his nurse, illustrating the isolation he would face.

As Pu Yi grows older, he endures a life of seclusion within the Forbidden City, attended only by servants and court eunuchs. His frustrations build as he expresses a longing to return home, revealing his emotional disconnect from his royal identity.

In his adulthood, Pu Yi attempts suicide again, leading to his imprisonment in the Fushun Detention Center. Here, he is haunted by memories of his childhood and the responsibilities that came with being emperor.

Pu Yi's brother, Pu Chieh, visits him in the detention center, which prompts Pu Yi to reflect on their childhood relationship. Their conversation underscores how Pu Yi's identity as an emperor has created a rift between them.

Flashback to 1919, Pu Yi meets Reginald Johnston, his tutor, who wishes to establish a friendship rather than enforce a strict hierarchy. This moment reveals Pu Yi's naiveté and the complexities of his royal upbringing.

In 1922, Pu Yi marries Wen Hsiu, intertwining his personal life with political ambitions. Their union represents both a moment of hope and a further entrenchment within the turbulent politics of that era.

Pu Yi's political entanglements lead to his installation as the emperor of the puppet state, Manchukuo. This theatrical rise to power is marked by a tragic facade as he struggles to navigate the murky waters of political betrayal.

As Pu Yi undergoes painful interrogations, he faces the consequences of his previous choices. Haunted by the memories of a childhood spent in the splendor of the Forbidden City, he longs for the simplicity of those early years.

By 1959, after much reflection and struggle, Pu Yi is finally released from prison. This moment signifies a tentative step towards redemption and the possibility of a new beginning for the former emperor.

In 1967, Pu Yi finds peace and contentment in the simple role of a gardener. This new phase of life allows him to smile genuinely for the first time, revealing his gradual acceptance of his past.

Pu Yi visits the Forbidden City, reminiscing about his past and grappling with nostalgia. The journey brings him face-to-face with the realities of his life as he reflects on the profound weight of meaning and responsibility he carried as emperor.