Raise the Red Lantern

Set in 1920s China, "Raise the Red Lantern" tells the story of Songlian, a 19-year-old university student who, after her father's death leaves her family bankrupt, is forced to become the fourth wife of the wealthy Master Chen. Upon arriving at the grand, labyrinthine family compound, she is initiated into a world governed by rigid, centuries-old traditions. The central ritual involves the master deciding each evening which of his four wives he will visit; that wife's courtyard has red lanterns lit, granting her privileges like a foot massage and her choice of meals.

Initially defiant and accustomed to her modern education, Songlian is quickly drawn into the bitter and clandestine rivalries among the wives. She must navigate the apparent kindness of the Second Mistress, Zhuoyun, the open jealousy of the Third Mistress, Meishan, a former opera singer, and the detached authority of the First Wife, Yuru. As the seasons change from a vibrant summer to a harsh winter, Songlian learns that survival in this gilded cage depends on manipulation and winning the master's fleeting favor, a game that inexorably erodes her spirit and individuality.

The core meaning of "Raise the Red Lantern" is a powerful critique of patriarchal and feudal systems that dehumanize individuals, particularly women. Director Zhang Yimou uses the insular world of the Chen family compound as a microcosm of a society where rigid rituals and traditions are tools of oppression. The film explores how such an oppressive structure strips individuals of their identity, forcing them into a cruel competition where they victimize one another to survive. Beyond its feminist critique, the film is widely interpreted as a political allegory for authoritarianism, where an unseen, absolute power (the Master) manipulates his subjects (the wives) and maintains control by fostering division and enforcing arbitrary rules, leading to the annihilation of the human spirit.

While the dominant interpretation views the film as a political allegory for authoritarian China, where the Master represents the unseen, manipulative state and the wives represent different social classes or factions pitted against each other, other readings exist.

A purely feminist interpretation focuses solely on the critique of traditional Confucian patriarchy and its devastating impact on women, seeing the story not as an allegory for contemporary politics but as a historical tragedy about gendered oppression. From this perspective, the Master isn't the Communist Party but simply the embodiment of a timeless, oppressive patriarchal power.

Another reading suggests the film is a more universal parable about human nature and power dynamics. In this view, the Chen compound is a microcosm of any hierarchical social structure—a corporation, a political party, or a social clique—where individuals compete for favor from those in power, often sacrificing their morality in the process. This interpretation sees the film's message as a timeless commentary on humanity's propensity for submission and cruelty within rigid power structures, applicable to any culture or time period.

"Raise the Red Lantern" was a landmark film for the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, achieving widespread international critical acclaim and bringing a new level of global attention to mainland Chinese cinema. Released in 1991, shortly after the 1989 Tiananmen Square events, the film was widely interpreted as a potent political allegory. The oppressive, rule-bound household was seen as a metaphor for China's authoritarian government, and the tragic infighting among the wives as a critique of how such systems turn citizens against one another.

Its stunning, highly aestheticized cinematography by Zhao Fei, particularly its use of color and symmetrical, claustrophobic framing, had a significant influence on world cinema's perception of Chinese film. The film's success solidified the director-muse collaboration between Zhang Yimou and actress Gong Li, making them two of the most recognizable figures in international film. Despite being initially banned in China for its subversive undertones, its international success eventually led to its release there. It remains a key text in studies of Chinese cinema, feminism, and political allegory in film.

Audiences and critics alike lauded "Raise the Red Lantern" for its breathtaking visual beauty, meticulous cinematography, and powerful performances, especially by Gong Li. The film's rich color palette and symbolic imagery were universally praised, with Roger Ebert giving it four out of four stars and calling it a film that "exists solely for the eyes" yet contains a "cruel reality" beneath its beauty. Many viewers were captivated by the engrossing, tragic story and its potent allegorical layers, recognizing it as a profound critique of both historical patriarchy and modern authoritarianism.

The main points of criticism, particularly from some domestic Chinese audiences at the time, were that the film catered to Western perceptions of an "exotic" and backward China. Some found its pace to be deliberately slow and its tone relentlessly bleak. However, the overwhelming international consensus was that the film is a masterpiece of world cinema, a haunting and visually stunning tragedy.