Raise the Red Lantern (1991)

Filipe Manuel Neto

2.0

Mar 8, 2023

**In the context of oriental cinema, it's a good film... but it's very different from the cinema that we, in the West, are used to, and this difference ends up killing our interest in this work.** I think this movie was the first Chinese movie I saw, I'm not really sure. I am not an expert on the cinema of this country, but I can say that it is one of those films that you see without much special interest. Of course, I'm talking about the standard audience, because there are really oriental film lovers who will be more interested in this material. The script is based on the story of Song…

Priscilla Chu

Jun 9, 2025

**Raise the Red Lantern:** Directed by Zhang Yimou, Raise the Red Lantern (大红灯笼高高挂) stands as a seminal work in Chinese cinema, premiering in 1991 and adapted from Su Tong's novel Wives and Concubines. The film achieved international acclaim, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and earning nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film, solidifying its status as a landmark critique of feudal patriarchy. **Theme: Critique and Reflection on Feudal Ethics** The theme of Raise the Red Lantern is profound and weighty, offering a comprehensive critique and re…