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Raise the Red Lantern

Play trailer Poster for Raise the Red Lantern PG Released Sep 10, 1991 2h 5m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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.
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 David Parkinson Radio Times Once again making exceptional use of bright colour, symbolic compositions, stylised sets and the breathtaking rural landscape, director Zhang Yimou has fashioned a compelling and at times erotic story about the repression of women in 1920s China. Rated: 5/5 Aug 30, 2024 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Ronnie M Unforgettable Movie... this movie pulls you into the story. Great acting and very realistic settings. Love it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/25 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Raise the Red Lantern

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Cast & Crew

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Yimou Zhang

Director

Gong Li

Songlian

Jingwu Ma

The Master

Saifei He

Meishan (Third Wife)

Cao Cuifeng

Zhuoyan (Second Wife)

Jin Shuyuan

Yuru

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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
Fu-Sheng Chiu
Screenwriter
Su Tong, Ni Zhen
Distributor
Orion Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
China Film Co-Production Corporation, Salon Films, Century Communications, ERA International
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