Forever Enthralled 梅兰芳 ~ Chinese Movies&TV

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.

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.