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Raise the Red Lantern (MGM World Films) Editorial Review:
Songlian, an educated nineteen-year-old girl, is forced to leave college to become the fourth wife of a powerful, feudal nobleman and becomes involved in the intrigues and rivalries between his other wives.
Genre: Foreign Film - Chinese
Rating: PG
Release Date: 24-JUL-2007
Media Type: DVD
Customer Reviews:
Excellent movie
A classic Chinese movie. A fine film. I saw it in the theatre years ago when it first appeared on screen. I had wanted to own a copy for years and finally found it. I am happy I did.
Nice to Find
was looking for this movie everywhere, found it here, great price, great item, fast and promp service and delivery. pleasure to do business with.
Excellent story of Chinese culture
Qi Gong and other cast members turn in excellent performances in this story about pre-revolutionary China in which one master shares four concubines. The title "Raise the Red Lantern" has nothing to do with a communist or propaganda theme. It was simply the method by which the master chose his concubine for the evening.
The intrigues between the four "wives" is interesting and well-portrayed. The master of the house was willing to put up with the petty one-up's man ship and arguing amongst his wives. One thing, however, that he would not tolerate was infidelity. This story details the decline of his youngest wife from the pretty and preferred status she enjoyed to madness when she learns the fate of #3 wife whose status she preempted when she joined the "family" and her diminished status when she was no longer the "favorite" and was also supplanted by a new wife.
In Chinese with English sub-titles. The dialog is simple and easily understood by a student of Chinese language, but the subtitles help particularly during run-on conversations and softly spoken dialog.
Great DVD transfer by MGM. But there is one drawback.
I remember going into this movie with high expectations, which is usually met with a degree of disappointment. Not this time. This film is marvelous.
It is a 5 star movie but I am subtracting one star because while the movie is unquestionably a masterpiece, and the MGM transfer is terrific compared with past DVD releases, it is completely lacks extras. This DVD release has none! Not even the theatrical trailer, which I figure is the bare minimum these days. I'm sure there are documentaries and commentaries associated with the movie somewhere out there- they just aren't here. So be forewarned of this if you are considering buying the MGM DVD.
That said, you really should add this DVD to your movie library anyway because of the terrific transfer done MGM and the fact that this is simply one of the finest films ever made.
Also be aware that MGM has re-released it's transfer of another Zhang Yimou classic, 'To Live'. If you've never seen it and were stunned at the breathtaking images in 'Raise the Red Lantern', it would definitely be worth your while to obtain that DVD as well!
A 5-star film on a 1-star DVD
The film is set in China in the 1920s during the Warlord Era (1916-1928) when the country was divided among military cliques. Nineteen year-old Songlian (Gong Li) resolves cynically to marry (or become the mistress of) a wealthy man to lift herself out of poverty. Her father has died and left the family penniless. She marries into the Chen family, becoming the fourth mistress (concubine) of the wealthy master. Like the three previous "wives" she is assigned her own lavish quarters where, on nights the master elects to sleep with her, red lanterns are hung out.
The four mistresses or "sisters" share meals (except for the one chosen as the master's sleeping partner for the night; she receives special treatment) and socialize. It is soon apparent that there is a web of jealousy, suspicion and intrigue that underlies their relationships, as they vie for the master's favor.
The first mistress has borne the master a son, who is now around Songlian's age. The third mistress is a former singer in the Chinese opera. She is unhappy with her status as mistress and later confides in Songlian that she is meeting clandestinely with Dr. Gao, the family's physician.
Songlian is assigned a servant girl, Yang, who regards her mistress with contempt and jealousy. When Songlian discovers that Yang has secretly raised red lanterns in her own servant quarters, she flies into a rage, smashes the lanterns and drags Yang out for punishment. Yang becomes ill from shock and later dies.
On her birthday Songlian gets drunk and inadvertently reveals the secret of the third mistress's affair with Dr. Gao. The first mistress goes to the hotel where a tryst is underway and catches them in flagrante delicto. The master is away, and when Meishan's transgression is exposed, his retainers drag her to the tower and she is hanged. When Songlian discovers what has happened, she goes mad and is seen wandering aimlessly dressed in a schoolgirl's uniform.
A stunningly beautiful film with rich, lavish sets and costumes, breathtaking color, a compelling script based on the novel Wives and Concubines by Wu Tong, and consummate acting. Unfortunately the subtitles on the DVD copy I watched were laughably bad (example: servant is rendered as savant) and interfered with my understanding and enjoyment of the movie. Other reviewers have indicated that there are later and better DVD releases. so my advice is to be careful which version you buy/borrow.
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