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Raise the Red Lantern

Raise the Red Lantern

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Summary

Oscar-nominated drama starring Gong Li as Songlian, a young student in 1920s China who drops out of university following her father's death, and becomes the fourth wife of an affluent nobleman. When she moves into his bleak mansion, Songlian is forced to compete for her husband's attention with his other wives - a rivalry which arouses jealousy and betrayal.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

David Parkinson

Although a lesser film than the stunning Ju Dou, this is still one of the jewels of Chinese cinema in the 1990s. 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. Proving again that she is one of the world's finest actresses, Gong Li excels as the teenager who is forced to abandon her studies to become the fourth wife of a nobleman, but He Caifei, as the usurped third wife, matches her throughout their struggle for the right to the red lantern that signifies the master's favour.

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8.1/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameSonglianGong Li Chen ZuoqianMa Jingwu MeishanHe Caifei ZhuoyunCao Cuifeng YuruJin Shuyuan Yan'erKong Lin Mother SongDing Weimin Doctor GaoCui Zhigang FeipuChu Xiao Old servantCao Zhengyin Chen BaishunZhao Qi

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Crew

rolenameDirectorZhang Yimou

Details

Released on

1992-02-21

Languages

Chinese

Guidance

Contains violence.

Available on

video

Formats

Colour

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