Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Da hong deng long gao gao gua (original title)

Director:

Yimou Zhang

Writers:

Su Tong (novel)
Ni Zhen

Release Date:

20 December 1991 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

China, 1920. One master, four wives.

Plot:

China in the 1920's. After her father's death, nineteen year old Songlian is forced to marry Chen Zuoqian...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Red Lantern | Lantern | 1920s | China

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 19 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Li Gong	...	Songlian
Saifei He	...	Meishan (Third Wife)
Cuifen Cao	...	Zhuoyan (Second Wife)
Jingwu Ma	...	The Master
Qi Zhao	...	Housekeeper
Lin Kong	...	Yan'er
Shuyuan Jin	...	Yuru (First Wife)
Weimin Ding	...	Songlian's mother
Zhengyin Cao	...	Old servant
Zhihgang Cui	...	Dr. Gao
Chu Xiao	...	Feipu
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Baotian Li	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Yimou Zhang

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Su Tong		novel
Ni Zhen

Produced by
Fu-Sheng Chiu	....	producer
Hsiao-hsien Hou	....	executive producer
Wenze Zhang	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Naoki Tachikawa
Jiping Zhao

Cinematography by
Lun Yang
Fei Zhao

Film Editing by
Yuan Du

Art Direction by
Juiping Cao

Costume Design by
Huamiao Tong

Production Management
Yiting Feng	....	production manager
Dehe Ma	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jianjun He	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Lanhua Li	....	sound

Editorial Department
Tod Scott Brody	....	post-production: USA

Production Companies

• ERA International
• China Film Co-Production Corporation
• Century Communications
• Salon Films

Distributors

• AMLF (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Film Arte (1992) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Alliance Communications Corporation (1992) (Canada) (subtitled)
• Alliance Releasing Home Video (Canada) (VHS) (subtitled)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Golem Distribución (Spain)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Momentum Pictures (1991) (UK) (all media)
• Orion Classics (1992) (USA) (subtitled)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1992) (Argentina) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Da hong deng long gao gao gua" - China (original title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong | Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Company:

ERA International

Trivia:

"The Master's" face is never seen. It is either obscured behind thin curtains or out of shot.

Quotes:

The Third Concubine:She has the face of Buddha and the heart of a scorpian

Movie Connections:

Featured in Nitrate Base (1996)

Shocking, thought-provoking and very well-made.

I can certainly understand why this film is so critically acclaimed. Raise The Red Lantern is one of the only Chinese movies I've seen, but I'll definitely admit that it's unusual to see a film this stylistically masterful come out of Hollywood (although it can happen -- The Thin Red Line, for example). A lot of what makes this film work is Zhang Yimou's outstanding directorial style; his use of color against bleak background is especially effective. It's his hypnotic visuals that keep you interested throughout the slow progression of the story. And the amazing acting by most of the performers doesn't hurt, either; everything feels completely real.

I think of this as one of those movies that you aren't supposed to enjoy; it shocks you, and leaves you just as disturbed as, considering the subject matter, you should be. The miserable story of Yan'er, the servant girl, is especially painful to watch, and the same goes for the unfolding of the last few scenes. But I think the fact that I was so unsettled by this movie probably just goes to show how well it gets its points across. And along with the remarkable acting and directing, that's definitely something to be respected.