Undesirable ‘Concubine’

As a movie lover for many years, I strongly disagree with the Academy Award nomination in the foreign-language film category of the Hong Kong entry, “Farewell My Concubine” (“Oscar’s Favorite List,” Feb. 10). The film, upon which I wasted my money, is an ugly and sordid two hours and 36 minutes of cruelty: mutilation, beatings, humiliation, torture, murder, more beatings and then, at the end, an incomprehensible suicide.

A few conceivable reasons for the film’s many awards to date are that it does have scope, ambition, overwrought passion and some powerful performances. However, this in no way makes it an artful film with logical story development or meaningful content.

BETH TEMKIN

North Hollywood