Films & Events
Forever Enthralled
Chen Kaige returns to the theatrical biopic, the cinematic genre that brought him the biggest acclaim of his career in Farewell My Concubine. This opulent period drama is the story of Mei Lanfang (1894-1961), a Peking opera singer of such virtuosity that his fame spread worldwide and his admirers included Charlie Chaplin and Sergei Eisenstein, who even filmed him. Descended from an acting family, Mei’s popularity soon made him a rival to veteran actor Swallow 13, and the two face off in a musical “duel” from which Mei emerges the victor. As his fame spreads, the late 1920s see him even performing on Broadway, but disaster sets in with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, and Mei’s refusal to sing in public under the occupation proves career-threatening. The film neatly conveys the fragile social position of opera performers of the early party of last century, who were regarded as little better than prostitutes, and is blessed by a handful of outstanding performances amongst the supporting cast representing the singers. But above all it is an engaging portrait of Mei’s amazing talent, which bewitched audiences of the time and made him one of China’s true national treasures.
Sponsors:
Magnolia Audio-Video, MarQueen Hotel & Inn at Queen Anne
Cast & Crew
Director: Chen Kaige
Producer: Han Sanping, Du Jiayi
Editor: Zhou Ying
Screenwriter: Yan Geling, Chen Guofu, Zhang Jialu
Cinematographer: Zhao Xiaoshi
Music: Zhao Jipling
Principal Cast: Leon Lai, Zhang Ziyi, Sun Honglei, Chen Hong
Filmography: Wu ji (The Promise) (2005); The First Emperor (1998); Temptress Moon (1996); Farewell My Concubine (1993); King of the Children (1987)
World Sales: CMC Entertainment
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