- English name：Forever Enthralled
- Broadcast time：December 4, 2008
- Starring：黎明（Leon Lai Ming）、章子怡（Zhang Ziyi）、陈红、孙红雷、王学圻、英达、余少群、安藤政信（あんどう まさのぶ）、潘粤明、吴刚
- director：陈凯歌（Chen Kaige）
Introduction
The film “Mei Lanfang” is a drama film written by Yan Geling, Chen Guofu and Zhang Jialu, directed by Chen Kaige, and co-starred by Leon Lai, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Hong, Sun Honglei, Wang Xueqi, Yingda, Yu Shaoqun, Ando Masanobu and others. The film was released in mainland China on December 4, 2008.
The film tells the legendary life of Mr. Mei Lanfang, a master of Peking Opera. The story revolves around the two people. Qiu Rubai, who regards himself as Mei Lanfang’s guide and protector, cannot stand the love between Mei Lanfang and Meng Xiaodong, so he directed the assassination of Mei Lanfang behind the scenes.
Today let’s take a brief introduction of a famous Chinese movie named “Forever Enthralled”.Directed by Chen Kaige and starring Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi, the film Forever Enthralled was released on December 4, 2008. It was adapted from the biographical literature My Father Mei Lanfang, a book written by Mei Lanfang’s son Mei Shaowu.
Combining story, real history and fiction, the film narrates the artistic achievement as well as the romance of Peking opera master Mei Lanfang. It is divided into three sections, lasting about two hours. Forever Enthralled tries to shape the historical figure with humanistic spirit and intellectual emotion, presenting to the audience a Mei Lanfang that was not only a master in Peking opera art, but also an exemplar in moral integrity. There is a scenario of Mei Lanfang growing a beard to take his stance in the film. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Invasion, Mei Lanfang stayed in Hong Kong and Shanghai, growing a beard and refusing any performance under the enemy’s rule, which fully embodies the patriotic feelings of the artist.
Moreover, the film presents the beauty of Peking opera with delicate style. The cinema scene, the color, and the makeup, all are exquisitely displayed. The delicacy of Forever Enthralled is kind of elegant and peaceful: the courtyard houses of Beijing, the desks and chairs in the theater, the light and shadow in the back stage… There is no bright red and purple, nor hustle and bustle of crowds, and everything in the camera lens seems soft and beautiful. In addition, young Mei Lanfang played by Yu Shaoqun has won the acclaim of quite a lot of film critics. His stage performance of Peking opera, looking brilliant even in the amateurs’ eyes, is considered to have brought the charm of Mei Lanfang into full play.Moreover, the film presents the beauty of Peking opera with delicate style. The cinema scene, the color, and the makeup, all are exquisitely displayed. The delicacy of Forever Enthralled is kind of elegant and peaceful: the courtyard houses of Beijing, the desks and chairs in the theater, the light and shadow in the back stage… There is no bright red and purple, nor hustle and bustle of crowds, and everything in the camera lens seems soft and beautiful. In addition, young Mei Lanfang played by Yu Shaoqun has won the acclaim of quite a lot of film critics. His stage performance of Peking opera, looking brilliant even in the amateurs’ eyes, is considered to have brought the charm of Mei Lanfang into full play.
Plot
Mei Lanfang’s first competitor in life was the old artist “Shisan Yan” who had a three-generation friendship with the Mei family. Mei Lanfang’s appearance shook Shisan Yan’s position. The decisive battle was inevitable, but Mei Lanfang lost the first game, and he had two days to save the defeat. Despite everyone’s opposition, Mei Lanfang changed to a new fashion play, which was a great success. The victory was already decided, and Mei Lanfang persuaded Shisan Yan to give up the performance on the third day, but was rejected by Shisan Yan.
Mei Lanfang gradually entered middle age, with his wife Fu Zhifang (played by Chen Hong) and lovely children, his career was in full swing. In 1929, he received an invitation to perform in the United States. Meng Xiaodong (played by Zhang Ziyi), a female artist who specializes in playing men on the Peking Opera stage, saw the melancholy in Mei Lanfang’s eyes when she first met him, and her open and cheerful personality infected Mei Lanfang. They performed on the same stage, and had a desire to blend themselves with each other and share together. At this time, Mei Lanfang’s wife Fu Zhifang said to Meng Xiaodong, he is neither yours nor mine, he belongs to the audience.
Mei Lanfang decided not to perform on stage because of Japan’s invasion of China. When Mei Lanfang repeatedly rejected the Japanese army’s invitation to perform, he was surprised to hear the news that he was about to make a comeback. The person who announced this news to the public was the anonymous Qiu Rubai (played by Sun Honglei).
Key words
章子怡 Zhāng Zǐyí: (born 9 February 1979), sometimes credited as Ziyi Zhang, is a Chinese film actress and model. Chinese media have called her one of the Four Dan Actresses (四大花旦) in China’s film industry, along with Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei and Zhou Xun.
梅兰芳 Méi Lánfāng: (October 22, 1894 – August 8, 1961) was one of the most famous Peking opera artists in modern history, exclusively known for his qingyi roles, a type of dan role. Méi Lánfāng is his stage name, and in Chinese it is generally considered a feminine name.
香港 Xiānggǎng: one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China, the other being Macau.
