Raise the Red Lantern

by Mike McGranaghan

Zhang Yimou has been making incredible films for decades, House of Flying Daggers, Curse of the Golden Flower, and Cliff Walkers among them. He is perhaps best known for his 1991 drama Raise the Red Lantern, which was nominated for Best Foreign-Language Film at the Academy Awards. To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Film Movement is bringing this masterpiece back to theaters with a brand new 4K restoration. If you’ve never seen the movie, now is the time. If you have, see it again, as it looks better than ever.

Songlian (Gong Li, in a beautifully textured performance) is a 19-year-old who had to drop out of college due to family financial issues. In desperation, she accepts a job as the fourth concubine to wealthy Master Chen (Ma Jingwu) during 1920s China. She meets the three other concubines upon moving in. The first appears disinterested, the second is friendly, and the third, Meishan (Saifei He), is spoiled, self-centered, and unhappy to no longer be the youngest and prettiest. Songlian quickly figures out the rules, including the lighting of lanterns at the suite of whichever concubine is currently in Master Chen’s favor, sexual or otherwise. That creates a system in which the women are pitted against each other for his approval.

Raise the Red Lantern proceeds to show what happens as a result of this misogynist set-up. Songlian arrives with good intentions, only to find that no one can be trusted. She, too, needs to scheme to remain in Master Chen’s good graces. Certain dramas she lands in unwittingly; others are designed by her own hand. The story is a character study of how the women deal with situations inflicted upon them by a man whose money gives him immense power. A subplot between Songlian and her devious personal servant, Yan’er (Kong Lin), builds to a particularly dramatic resolution.

Little details are emphasized throughout, underlining the competitiveness of the scenario. Aside from the lanterns, favored concubines are treated to foot rubs and additional pampering by a crew of servants. Anger Master Chen and they have black covers put over their doors and windows, letting everybody know they’ve been shamed. What’s most interesting about the movie is how it shows the way these tactics cause the women – who are innocent – to oppose one another. Rather than being allies, they are enemies, compelled to kowtow to a man in order to have basic pleasures. Zhang Yimou dives deep into the twisted psychological mind game taking place, using the story to comment on the history of female mistreatment.

The director’s trademark bold use of color pops gorgeously in the new 4K transfer, which was done under his supervision using the original image and sound negatives. Red, blue, and orange are utilized to set the mood in certain sequences, and the effect is powerful. Lush visuals are a vital element in all Zhang Yimou’s films, so having the movie lovingly restored maximizes its impact.

Raise the Red Lantern made a splash in 1991 and deserves to make another now. It’s an example of an inventive filmmaker working at peak levels.