Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Movie review
The Raise the Lantern is one of the most thrilling and yet enlightening movies of the contemporary world. Laced with multiple themes and emotional triggering storylines, the film directed by Zhang Yimou depicts Songlian’ s(Gong Ling) circumstances as a microcosm of the changing socio-economic and political landscape in mainland China. Indeed, the empowerment and status quo conflict ensues in the entire movie.
The movie unfolds with the arrival of Songlian, a well-schooled and beautiful lady, at the precincts of a wealthy landowner insisting on carrying her suitcase, a sign of independence that would set her at loggerheads with her new family. She gets married off to the feudal landowner as the fourth wife against her wishes (Zhang, 2017). Her mother’s betrayal becomes evident. Her level of education and mental awareness is far beyond the conservative attitude family and community at large. As the story progress, she realizes her freedom is at stake as the concubine and her stay in the expansive home of the wealthy landowner (Zhang, 2017). Songlian learns of the life ahead of her. The separate and private dwelling of each wife and elaborate rules on how to conduct oneself. In particular, the Red lantern is hoisted each night at the premises of the wife communicating the turn to grace the master’s company. Although the wives get treated to a plethora of luxuries such as food, drinks, and clothes, they have to endure long days waiting to be with their Rich master. One of her maids(Kong Li) she doesn’t get along with gives her tips – getting regular foot message- to make her way into the husband’s heart ( Zhang, 2017).
Notably, Zhang directs the explicit and exciting storyline to elicit the private life of the wealthy families in China, at the beginning of the 20th century. The dramatic scenes in which the jealous concubine number three( He Caifei) manipulates her husband through ailment when he visits, and the evil maid ( Kong Li); underscores the undercurrent family tensions and malice that would otherwise be obscured by the affluent life of the well of a member of the society. Although Songlians realizes that she has to fight for her survival by manipulation to win the heart of the rich husband, she resents the idea. Songlian, the youngest wife, finds bonding with the second wife who treats her well while the aged wife seems calm and tolerant. In the turn of event, the younger wives unite to resent the husband despite the expectation to win the heart of the master ( Zhang, 2017).
Moreover, the “Raise the Red Lantern” movie did not get the nod in China because of apparent reasons to expose the corrupt underdealings of contemporary Chinese society. In the film, the wealthy landowner represents the government and societal institutions well-orchestrated rules and rituals that rewards those who play with rules and decimates those who oppose the institutions. The landowner’s house is riddled with routines and struggles; however, it seems to prosper under luxury symbolizes the ill motives and atrocities such as The Tiananmen square massacre, which was concealed and denied by the regime not to have taken place(BBC, 2019). Besides, the movie is a protest to the patriarchal social community and the subjection of women in China. There is simply no room for discussion as a section of women in the society do not stand to speak against ill-treatment, as seen with the first wife. The other wives resent protesting wittingly without opting for divorces.
Conclusively, the “Raise the Red Lantern” is a mix of drama and beauty that illuminates the societal vices in the most exciting manner. The clever use of character Songlian and the concubines enhance the storyline and the multi-faceted themes in the movie.
References
BBC (2019).Tiananmen Square Fast Facts. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/asia/tiananmen-square-fast-facts/index.html
Zhang, Y. (Director). (2017). Raise the Red Lantern (1991. U.S. Distributor: Miramax Films. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BVKEaXhWak