Abstract:

The Worlds of Mei Lang Fang presents Peking Opera through its premier exponent Mei LanFang (1895-1961). Mei LanFang survived two revolutions and foreign occupations to remain the icon of high art, specializing in portrayals of female roles, from delicate maidens to fierce warriors. This portrait of one of the most important artists in Chinese history, provides us with a unique perspective on Chinese culture and history. The Worlds of Mei Lang Fang draws on a variety of sources. Rare archival film clips of Mei LanFang in performance and visiting with Western dignitaries comprise one essential resource. Bringing together the great artistic minds of the early part of the century, Sergei Eisenstein and Mei LanFang, we present newly discovered footage from the master of montage as well as the first Chinese color feature, Wedding in the Dream by Fei Mu (1947). The figure of Mei LanFang is also used to explore Chinese nationalism. As a boy he witnessed the brutal Western occupation of Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 an event which was to stimulate a life-long appreciation of Chinese nationalism.