京剧是近代中国最有影响力的一门艺术，也是世界上最独特的一种表演体系。在京剧二百多年的发展历程中，它汲取中国的歌唱、舞蹈、音乐、绘画、文学之精髓，从民间走进宫廷，从帝王普及到百姓，被称为国剧。梅兰芳是京剧发展历程中最伟大的表演艺术家和代表人物，也堪称世界艺术史上杰出的大师之一。

    梅兰芳1894年出生于北京。他的祖父和父亲都是扮演京剧旦角的演员。梅兰芳九岁拜师学艺，十岁登台演出。在此后半个多世纪的舞台生涯中，他塑造了众多的艺术形象，创立了梅派表演艺术。舞台上的梅兰芳或是仪态万方的贵妃，或是可爱的少女，而现实中梅兰芳却是一个英俊的男子。他还是一个体贴的丈夫和慈爱的父亲。人们尊敬梅兰芳，还因为他是一个爱国者，一个博学的才子，一个将京剧带入世界舞台的先行者。

    1919年、1924年和1956年，梅兰芳三次赴日本演出；1929年底赴美国演出，并被授予美国波莫纳学院和南加州大学荣誉文学博士学位；1935年他赴前苏联演出。他在国际舞台上的精湛表演，让世界认识了京剧，也记住了梅兰芳。

    大型文献艺术片《又见梅兰芳》调动中央新闻纪录电影制片厂资料库中所有关于梅兰芳的影片素材，汇集梅兰芳生前留在世界各地记录他生活和舞台艺术的影像资料；追随他生前的足迹，用35MM彩色胶片及先进的摄影手段拍摄。在他住过的老房子里，展示他留下的珍贵文物；在他演出过的舞台上，在他访问过的国家和城市中，透过岁月的浮尘，探寻梅兰芳留下的印迹。本片还将记录梅兰芳最小的儿子、也是梅派艺术最重要的传人——梅葆玖先生对父亲的深情回忆，让今天的人们从这位70岁老人的艺术和生活中，从他讲述的历史中走近大师梅兰芳。本片还将着力关注梅派艺术在二十一世纪的传承和发展，特别邀请梅派弟子重新演绎梅派的经典剧目片断穿插在影片中，以展现梅派京剧艺术的独特魅力。

    Peking Opera , culturally the most influential art form in modern Chinese history , also represents one of the world’s most unique bodies of work in performing art . During its development spanning over two hundred years , Peking Opera has acquired strengths from China’s singing , dancing , music , painting , and literature traditions , and evolved from folk art to royal entertainment and gained popularity with imperial families and common people alike . It is considered the national opera of China . Mei Lanfang , the greatest Peking Opera artist and the quintessential figure witnessing and contributing to its development , is also regarded as one of the most extraordinary masters in the world’s history of performing art .

    Mei Lanfang was born in 1894 in Beijing . Both his father and grandfather were actors dedicated to playing female figures in Peking Opera . Mei began his schooling in the art form at the age of nine , and went on stage to perform for the first time at ten . In the half century that followed , he created numerous memorable characters, and formally established the Mei style of acting . On stage , he might appear as the elegant wife of the emperor or a refreshing young lady , while in real life , he was a man of extremely handsome appearance , as well as a caring husband and a loving father . Mei Lanfang is also remembered with great respect by his fellow countryman as a patriot, an erudite scholar , and a pioneer who has introduced Peking Opera to the internatinal world.

    Mei Lanfang visited Japan three times during 1919, 1924 and 1956 to perform ; he also went to perform in the U.S. at the end of 1929, and was awarded the honorary doctorate degree by the Pomona College and the University of Southern California respectively . In 1935, he went to perform in the former Soviet Union. His extraordinary performance on these foreign stages has won recognition for Peking Opear from around the world, and made Mei Lanfang an unforgettable name to the international audience.

    This documentary “A Great Master Recaptured ” will include the best film footage on Mei Lanfang selected from China Central News and Documentary Film Studio’s archive , as well as film and photographic materials recording his life and art gathered from around the world . The documentary will use 35mm color film, combined with advanced cinematic technique, to retrace the steps of MeiLanfang ’s life and journey through theaters where he had performed and countries and cities that he had visited . The film will also document a deeply personal interview with Mei Baojiu, MeiLanfang ’s youngest son, who is also the most important disciple of the Mei style of acting . Through the memory of Mei Baojiu, now in his 70’s, we will be able to approach his father Mei Lanfang ’s life up close. The film will also focus on the inheritance and development of the Mei style in th 21st century, including episodes with enactment of the classical Mei repertoire by the best students of the Mei school. Such appearance will ensure the most satisfying representation of the Mei style for an eager audience.