Zhang Ziyi (left) and Leon Lai in the highly anticipated Forever Enthralled directed by Chen Kaige (below). File photos

Ms Yang is in her 40s. Though not a moviegoer, she still decided to watch Forever Enthralled.

"I came to watch this film for I'm a fan of Peking Opera. The film is good, I enjoyed watching it in a cinema."

Meanwhile, youngsters see the film in different aspects. Wu Qiong is one of them.

"I was moved by the story, especially when I saw Mei Lanfang's beloved leaving him with regret. This film is much better than Chen Kaige's last film, The Promise."

A poster of "Forever Enthralled" [Photo: Xinhuanet.com]

The Promise in 2005 was regarded as a huge failure both by critics and the public. The overly simplistic storyline and funny dialogue made many people laugh out loud in cinemas. This time, the historical story of Forever Enthralled and its in-depth descriptions of the characters' inner world have helped Chen Kaige regain his fame.

Forever Enthralled has also attracted overseas attentions. It will be a candidate for the Golden Bear award in 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.