Dieyi's death... opinions?

Interesting theory but your mom is not correct. The ending of the movie is nearly the same as the book but in the book, Dieyi doesn't die. He cuts his throat with the sword enough to break the skin, falls into his beloved Xiaolou's arms, but does not die.

He was not executed by the Red Guards in either version.



Baba mi Ogun modupue

As someone already noted, you absolutely MUST write ***SPOILER*** in your subject line.

To respond to your post, I don't believe Dieyi died at the hands of the soldiers. He died when you saw him die.

Interesting theory, however the death is linked to the death of the concubine in the opera. As the emperor realises his defeat the concubine kills herself, just as Dieyi does when it is obvious they will never play the parts again.

[deleted]

I have to second those who rightly suggest that Dieyi does not die until the very last scene.

Regardless of what happens in the original novel, in the film it is clearly shown that he is still alive after the "popular trial" by the Red Guards mob. He lives to receive the sword from Juxian (Gong Li), Xiaolo's wife, before she goes on to hang herself at home, and when her suicide is discovered by Xiaolo in the next scene, Dieyi is also present as a living human.

So there is really no reason to suspect that Dieyi is a ghost in the 1977 scenes.

I just don't like this ending that much -- killing himself after surviving all the humiliation and despair during the Cultural Revolution just to die years later in the arms of a man who shamelessly betrayed him under mass pressure back then?

To be sure, I like the honesty of the betrayal scene, but not Dieyi's decision to kill himself years later when whatever emotional motives for him to do so should have diminished over time. That only shows how deep his obsession is with a particular way to end his life, rather than love for or resentment at anyone or anything.

In any case, on a technical note, the Red Guards were neither officials nor soldiers. They were just youngsters revolting on the encouragement of Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Because it was out of the will of the old Chairman, neither the law enforcement nor the armed forces dared to stand in the Red Guards' way. China thus descended into a decade of chaos until Mao died in 1976.

After the disastrous Cultural Revolution finally came to an end with the passing of Mao, those in the Communist Party who assumed power decided to place the blame on Mao's wife and a few propaganda officials instead of their late Chairman. That is the "Gang of Four" they mention in the opening scene of the film.