Raise The Red Lantern cover art

Raise The Red Lantern Reviews

1991 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 80
  • from 960 members

China, 1920. One master, four wives. Read more

Starring Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, Jingwu Ma
Director Zhang Yimou
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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  • Critics' reviews (2) of Raise The Red Lantern

    View all

  • Northern China, the 1920s. Having agreed - to spite both her stepmother and fate - to become the fourth wife of an... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Cool study of sexual politics and the subjugation of women.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Raise The Red Lantern

    View all
  • 82 out of 84 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A visually arresting and intriguing story!

    Zhang Yimou (who did Ju Dou later) directed this visually arresting and intriguing 1991 film about a university educated 19-year old woman (Songlian) who is sent to become the fourth wife of a nobleman in China in the 1920s. The movie gives extremely good views of the complex nature of Songlian trying to adjust to a sudden change of life, and the factors surrounding her, such as the 'competition' with the other wives to attract the attention of her husband and a remote palatial home with its own traditions of the years. The film is gorgeous, and for me, a better one than Ju Dou in its complexity and depiction of human interactions. A definite 'must see'.

      • Bruce from Oxford
      • Posted 04 Apr 2005 12:46
  • 22 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Wonderful film

    Normally I wouldn't give this kind of movie the time of day. But the plot is uttlerly fascinating. Who will get choosen next and why, intregie, suspense, this has it all.

      • A customer from Kent, UK
      • Posted 21 Jan 2006 18:45
  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Watch more World Cinema

    Look beyond Hollywood dross and embrace World Cinema. There's a whole new dimension of film just waiting for you to find it.

    This is a beautiful sad and dignified film.

      • A customer from Brighton, East Sussex
      • Posted 14 Apr 2007 20:27

  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Raise The Red Lantern

    View all
  • 22 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Wonderful film

    Normally I wouldn't give this kind of movie the time of day. But the plot is uttlerly fascinating. Who will get choosen next and why, intregie, suspense, this has it all.

      • A customer from Kent, UK
      • Posted 21 Jan 2006 18:45
  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Watch more World Cinema

    Look beyond Hollywood dross and embrace World Cinema. There's a whole new dimension of film just waiting for you to find it.

    This is a beautiful sad and dignified film.

      • A customer from Brighton, East Sussex
      • Posted 14 Apr 2007 20:27
  • 82 out of 84 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A visually arresting and intriguing story!

    Zhang Yimou (who did Ju Dou later) directed this visually arresting and intriguing 1991 film about a university educated 19-year old woman (Songlian) who is sent to become the fourth wife of a nobleman in China in the 1920s. The movie gives extremely good views of the complex nature of Songlian trying to adjust to a sudden change of life, and the factors surrounding her, such as the 'competition' with the other wives to attract the attention of her husband and a remote palatial home with its own traditions of the years. The film is gorgeous, and for me, a better one than Ju Dou in its complexity and depiction of human interactions. A definite 'must see'.

      • Bruce from Oxford
      • Posted 04 Apr 2005 12:46
  • 22 out of 23 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Wonderful film

    Normally I wouldn't give this kind of movie the time of day. But the plot is uttlerly fascinating. Who will get choosen next and why, intregie, suspense, this has it all.

      • A customer from Kent, UK
      • Posted 21 Jan 2006 18:45
  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Watch more World Cinema

    Look beyond Hollywood dross and embrace World Cinema. There's a whole new dimension of film just waiting for you to find it.

    This is a beautiful sad and dignified film.

      • A customer from Brighton, East Sussex
      • Posted 14 Apr 2007 20:27
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    ever memorable

    One of the films I actually remember as very good.

      • william from Oxford
      • Posted 27 Jan 2008 16:14

  • Critics' reviews (2)

  • Northern China, the 1920s. Having agreed - to spite both her stepmother and fate - to become the fourth wife of an... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008
  • 3 stars out of 4

    Cool study of sexual politics and the subjugation of women.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

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Rating breakdown

960 Member ratings
  • 100
232
  • 90
181
  • 80
287
  • 70
115
  • 60
61
  • 50
25
  • 40
19
  • 30
11
  • 20
20
  • 10
9

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