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      Raise the Red Lantern

      PG Released Sep 10, 1991 2h 5m Drama List
      97% 29 Reviews Tomatometer 94% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score Teenage Songlian (Gong Li), whose family has been devastated by the recent death of her father, becomes the third concubine of wealthy Master Chen (Ma Jingwu). She soon discovers that behind the palatial luxury of life in the master's house, she and her fellow concubines, Zhuoyan (Cao Cuifeng) and Meishan (He Caifei), are pitted against each other in a struggle for his affections. The situation inevitably leads to deception, jealous rages and the revelation of each other's darkest secrets. Read More Read Less
      Raise the Red Lantern

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      Visually thrilling and rich with emotion, Raise the Red Lantern offers an engrossing period drama anchored by an outstanding performance from Gong Li.

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      Critics Reviews

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      Ted Shen Chicago Reader Zhang seems to suggest, the price for rebellion and transgression is still death or madness. Rated: 3/4 May 26, 2022 Full Review Rob Nelson Village Voice Visually ravishing and emotionally cold, Zhang's third feature is one long series of pushes and pulls. Feb 27, 2007 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times A beautifully crafted and richly detailed feat of consciousness-raising and a serious drama with the verve of a good soap opera. Rated: 4.5/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review In Raise the Red Lantern, Zhang Yimou's most widely acclaimed film, the Chinese director portrays life as a series of performative gestures under the duress of cultural tradition, prescribed gender roles, and hierarchical power structures. Rated: 4/4 Feb 12, 2022 Full Review Tom Meek Cambridge Day The feminist anthem here is a subtle wisp bolstered by sumptuousness, Zhang's masterful composition and Gong. Rated: 4/4 Jul 15, 2020 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant This incomparably handsome film quickens and darkens into a fascinating drama of sexual politics in a time when women were little more than pampered prisoners. May 31, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Alec B It starts off as melodrama but ends like a horror movie. Love the shooting location which is like a claustrophobic labyrinth. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/24 Full Review Jerod S The Red Lantern was the symbol of the master being in a mistresses house...and these 4 ladies are in a battle - for significance, worth, companionship. The old school chinese system is brutally put on display. And even though its slow, it's a great story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Georgan G Well-done but sad Chinese film which shows the fruitless lives of wife and concubines of a rich man in the 1920s. We watch the latest woman go through her first year in this household where the females must compete for the master's attention. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/26/23 Full Review Massoud H So exquisite. One of my all-time favorite films. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/23 Full Review Audience Member It starts off as melodrama but ends like a horror movie. Love the shooting location which is like a claustrophobic labyrinth. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review mei l They don't make films like this anymore in China. It's beautiful and one of the best films made by the 5th generation directors. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Raise the Red Lantern

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Teenage Songlian (Gong Li), whose family has been devastated by the recent death of her father, becomes the third concubine of wealthy Master Chen (Ma Jingwu). She soon discovers that behind the palatial luxury of life in the master's house, she and her fellow concubines, Zhuoyan (Cao Cuifeng) and Meishan (He Caifei), are pitted against each other in a struggle for his affections. The situation inevitably leads to deception, jealous rages and the revelation of each other's darkest secrets.
      Director
      Yimou Zhang
      Producer
      Hsiao-hsien Hou, Wenze Zhang
      Screenwriter
      Su Tong, Ni Zhen
      Distributor
      Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Production Co
      Salon Films, China Film Co-Production Corporation, ERA International, Century Communications
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      Chinese
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 10, 1991, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 4, 2019
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $22.6K
      Runtime
      2h 5m
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Dolby