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Raise The Red Lantern |
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| The sights and sounds of the Far East came to Brooklyn last week, as the National Ballet of China gave five performances of the New York premiere of Raise the Red Lantern as part of the BAM 2005 Next Wave Festival.The ballet, which was given its world premiere in Beijing in 2001, is the result of a remarkable collision of talent.The expressive and fluid choreography is provided by two of China's most esteemed choreographers, Wang Yuanyaun and Wang Xipeng, artistic director of the Dortmund Opera House Ballet.Now in its 46th year, The National Ballet of China incorporates techniques and style typical of the Russian School.In addition to performing Western ballet for Chinese audiences, it also creates its own works by combining elements of Eastern and Western dance, music and theater.Also incorporated into the ballet are elements of Peking Opera (we see an actual performance in once scene) and Chinese Shadow Theater.Only during an early pas de deux between an opera singer (in full garb) and the heroine, is the synthesis clumsy.In the end, the stage version bears only a superficial resemblance to the film.In the master's house, she incurs the envy of the other concubine, already in heated rivalry with the master's wife.After the girl reunites surreptitiously with her young lover, the first concubine betrays her to the master, thereby hoping to win his favor.Instead, she is rebuked for reasons that aren't altogether clear from either the performance or the program notes.In despair, she lights all the red lanterns in her yard (in the film, red lanterns indicate the house of the concubine where the master chooses to sleep on a given night, though there is no way indication of this in the ballet) and, as punishment, joins in the two lovers' fate.Watching the film, it's hard not to find abhorrent the barbaric treatment of women in early 20th century China.On stage, however, we lose all sense of historical context.While the entire cast showed impeccable beauty and grace, the ravishing Meng Ningning, who danced the First Concubine, showed exceptional agility and perfect poise.Zhu Yan (The Second Concubine) and Jin Jia (The Wife), by virtue of her beauty and dramatic abilities, as well.Ex: You have ten ads or you are adding a 10th, mt_ran(1,10).Add in another "elseif" along with the correct corresponding integer.Make sure to fill in the images and alternate text along with the URL!Questions, comments or a tip?The sights and sounds of the Far East came to Brooklyn last week, as the National Ballet of China gave five performances of the New York premiere of Raise the Red Lantern as part of the BAM 2005 Next Wave Festival.Now in its 46th year, The National Ballet of China incorporates techniques and style typical of the Russian School.In addition to performing Western ballet for Chinese audiences, it also creates its own works by combining elements of Eastern and Western dance, music and theater.This fusion of styles is felt in Chen's strongly unified, leitmotif filled score, which can go from sounding like a Chinese folksong to Debussy to the Korean composer Isang Yun to Stravinsky in a matter of minutes.Onstage, this blending of cultural elements is exemplified by the entirely Chinese corps dressed in Oriental garb, stepping gracefully in the manner of classical dance.Also incorporated into the ballet are elements of Peking Opera (we see an actual performance in once scene) and Chinese Shadow Theater.For the most part, these fusions work beautifully.In the master's house, she incurs the envy of the other concubine, already in heated rivalry with the master's wife.Instead, she is rebuked for reasons that aren't altogether clear from either the performance or the program notes.In despair, she lights all the red lanterns in her yard (in the film, red lanterns indicate the house of the concubine where the master chooses to sleep on a given night, though there is no way indication of this in the ballet) and, as punishment, joins in the two lovers' fate.The ballet ends with the three being flogged to death.But aside from being more straightforward and obvious, the ballet seems far less political than the film, which was initially banned in China.Watching the film, it's hard not to find abhorrent the barbaric treatment of women in early 20th century China.On stage, however, we lose all sense of historical context.While the master's cruelty still shocks us, the punishment seems entirely divorced from the political reality of the country.This fact might explain why the Chinese government has promoted such a wide tour of the work, including this belated American tour, which included performances in California and Washington (check!While the entire cast showed impeccable beauty and grace, the ravishing Meng Ningning, who danced the First Concubine, showed exceptional agility and perfect poise.Zhu Yan (The Second Concubine) and Jin Jia (The Wife), by virtue of her beauty and dramatic abilities, as well.The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.Lines and paragraphs break automatically.Apply to be a Spec editorial writer.Do you have what it takes to become a Spec columnist?Point Counterpoint: Pop Records
CCSC Rep.Which news story of the fall semester will have the most enduring legacy?Copyright 2007 Spectator Publishing Company, Inc.The film was later adapted into an acclaimed ballet of the same title by the National Ballet of China, directed by Zhang Yimou himself.The film tells the story of a young woman who becomes one of the concubines of a wealthy man during the Warlord Era.The film was shot in Qiao's Compound in the ancient city of Pingyao, in Shanxi Province.Some film critics have interpreted the film as a veiled allegory against Chinese communist authoritarianism.The film's popularity has also been attributed to helping Chinese tourism after the what was then recent government response to the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989.Plot
2 Cast
3 Distribution
4 Reception
5 Awards and Nominations
5.Plot
The film is set in 1920s China during the warlord era, years before the Chinese Civil War.In fact, the master decides on a daily basis which concubines he will spend the night with; whomever he chooses gets her lanterns lit, receives the foot massage, gets her choice of menu items at mealtime, and gets the most attention and respect from the servants.The First Mistress, Yuru (Jin Shuyuan), appears to be nearly as old as the master himself.The Second Mistress, Zhuoyun (Cao Cuifen), befriends Songlian, complimenting her youth and beauty, and giving her expensive silk as a gift; she also warns her about the Third Mistress, Meishan (He Caifei), a former opera singer who is spoiled and who becomes unable to cope with no longer being the youngest and most favored of the master's playthings.As time passes, though, Songlian learns that it is really Zhuoyun, the Second Mistress, who is not to be trusted; she is subsequently described as having the face of the Buddha, yet possessing the heart of a scorpion.Infuriated, the master orders Songlian's lanterns covered with thick black canvas bags indefinitely.Yan'er is punished by having the lanterns burned while she kneels in the snow, watching as they smolder.On her twentieth birthday, severely intoxicated and despondent over her bitter fate, she inadvertently blurts out the details of the love affair between Meishan and Doctor Gao.Zhuoyun overhears the information and catches the adulterous couple together.Following the old customs and traditions, Meishan is dragged to a lone room on the roof of the estate and hanged to death by the master's servants.The following summer, after the master's marriage to yet another concubine, Songlian is shown wandering the compound in her old school girl clothes, having gone completely insane.Distribution
Raise the Red Lantern has been distributed both on VHS and DVD by numerous different distributors, with many coming under criticism for their poor quality.The Razor Digital Entertainment DVD release has been widely criticised.DVD Times states "Many other viewers will find this DVD release simply intolerable."DVDTown criticsed the same release, giving the video quality 1 out of 10 and the audio quality 6 out of 10, summarising that "the video is a disaster".The translation on this version has been also widely criticsed for its numerous inaccuracies.Criterion edition with a new print or a full restoration, but in the absence of any likelihood of that, this Era Hong Kong edition is about as good as you could hope for."DVDBeaver broadly agrees stating "Now, this is not Criterion image quality, but it is not bad at all.DVD Talk, though, believes that "This new version is a stunner".Raise the Red Lantern has been very well received.TV Guide gave it 5 stars.However, there were a small amount of negative reviews.The film has also been praised for its artistic merit.James Berardinelli states that "the appeal to the eye only heightens the movie's emotional power".The film has been interpretted by some critics as a criticism of contemporary China, although Zhang Yimou himself has sternly denied this.James Berardinelli makes a similar analogy in his review where he states that "Songlian is the individual, the master is the government, and the customs of the house are the laws of the country.It's an archaic system that rewards those who play within the rules and destroys those who violate them."Raise the Red Lantern (1992).Raise the Red Lantern Review.Though Zhang's screenplay for RAISE THE RED LANTERN ...Chinese censors, the finished production was banned at home while playing to great praise abroad.Zhang Yimou's RAISE THE RED LANTERN.Raise the Red Lantern."DVD review of Raise The Red Lantern".The English subtitles contain an inordinate amount of typos and grammatical inaccuracies.Raise the Red Lantern.Raise the Red Lantern (Da Hong Long Gao Gao Gua) (1991).DVD Talk Review: Raise The Red Lantern.Raise the Red Lantern.DVD Talk Review: Raise The Red Lantern.Raise the Red Lantern.Raise the Red Lantern Review.Raise the Red Lantern' (PG).Raise the Red Lantern'.Raise the Red Lantern.Zhang Yimou has strenuously denied that Raise the Red Lantern, itself a violent tale of revolt and repression in the master's house, was a vehicle of political critique.Review: Raise the Red Lantern.This page was last modified 20:34, 11 December 2007.Minutes() * 60 + newCurrentTime.Hours() * 3600 + currentTime.See all 168 customer reviews...Plot Synopsis: China in the 1920's.After her father's death, nineteen year old Songlian is forced to marry Chen Zuoqian, the lord of a powerful family.Fifty year old Chen has already three wives, each of them living in separate houses within the great castle.See all 168 customer reviews...Video (See Bestsellers in Video)Popular in these categories: (What's this?Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?Zhang Yimou (Ju Dou) directed this fascinating, visually formal 1991 film about an educated woman (Gong Li) who is sent off to become the newest wife of a feudal nobleman in 1920s China.The film has a brittle and dry quality that is deliberate, but also suggestive of Zhang working through various explorations of his own style (which he resolved in his next film, The Story of Qiu Ju).Cast and Crew
Cast:Li Gong as SonglianCast continued....Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?See all 350 customer reviews...The easiest way to shoot video reviews.If there were any fairness in Hollywood, Gong Li would have won the Academy Award for Best Actress for any one of her many movies.Raise the Red Lantern is a thinking, engrossing movie that dispenses with special effects and overwhelming scores and concentrates on story and acting.Raise the Red Lantern shows one very strong, independent woman's attempt to overcome thousands of years of historic oppression in early 20th ca China.Women are collectables for rich men, mere objects of possession.When the human need for dignity and respect surface, the repercussions are catastrophic.The plot has been well documented, although this is one of those movies where the less you know going in the better.Suffice to say the first thing you'll want to do once the movie is over is to watch it again.It is disappointing to see a number of very mediocre movies receiving 4 and 5 stars simply because they shun the standard Hollywood formula, as if mainstream automatically equals bad and independent automatically equals good.The mediocrity of these films becomes apparent when compared to indy films of the highest caliber, such as Raise the Red Lantern.Was this review helpful to you?"Thanks for the valuable feedback you provided to other Amazon.Raise the Red Lantern is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful movies I have ever seen.The startling blaze of color, light and detail within the houses set against the drab simplicity of the courtyards, continually provided a contrast between life within the protection and at the favor of the master, and life without.In this manner, the mistresses are controlled.But more compelling than the beauty of the film is the story Director Zhang Yimou tells, a tale of paternity and imperious privilege set in early twentieth century China.She is warned by her stepmother that she will be a concubine.The first mistress ("big sister") is too old to be of any sexual interest to the master, yet she is the mother of the eldest son.Her devious schemes and plots are hidden by smiles and fake good will toward her sisters.Songlian, in spite of herself, finds herself caught up in the competition with the others.She has the gift, as does, for example, Julia Roberts, of being able to express a wide range of emotion with just a glance of her very expressive face.Serving as a foil to the mistresses, and perhaps as the most poignant victim of the concubine system, is the servant girl Yan'er, played with a compelling veracity by Kong Lin.She is occasionally (how shall I say this for Amazon?Songlian's term, by the master, and so she dreamed of being the fourth mistress.But when the fourth mistress arrives, her dreams are shattered, and in her jealousy she hates Songlian and plots against her.One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Songlian, thinking Yan'er has stolen her flute, forces open the servant girl's room and finds it flooded with....He is a personage, a man of wealth.One gets a sense of what it might be like in the harem system practiced by gorillas or the sheiks and warlords of old.Thus the triumphant call, "Light the lanterns in the third house!"Most people no doubt lament the life of the mistresses.Yet women in poor places may wish such a life upon themselves.But concubines are just prostitutes, really, one might say, trapped by a system of male privilege.But I would remind those who see only that, that for every wife the "master" has, that is one wife another man will not have.It favors wealth and privilege.It's one of the best ever made.Was this review helpful to you?Harassed by her stepmother to get married for over three days, Songlian finally consents.When asked whom will she marry, Songlian answers that she will marry a rich man.The stepmother then intones that if she marries a rich man then she will be nothing more than a concubine.Who Songlian states must be one hundred years old.The only mistress Songlian seems to be able to get along with is the Second Mistress, a pleasant faced older woman.Besides small things like the specific table where the family sits for meals and pregnancy rituals, several red lanterns illuminate the Mistress's rooms where the Master will sleep the night and the Mistress of said rooms will receive a foot massage given by the skillful Auntie Cao.While the lanterns and foots massages seem inconsequential, one of the mistresses informs Songlian that if one goes without a foot massages for three day, i.Master does not pay her a visit, the servants begin treating her differently.Also, the owner of the room where the lanterns were illuminated the night before can also chose specified meals.Seemingly hated by the Third Mistress and even her own maidservant Yan'er, Songlian, who was attending a University until her father died, finds herself tangled in a system of tradition where backstabbing is the rule of the game.However, Songlian is not scared to attack back even at the risk of the safety of others.While living in luxury, one can sense the boredom she must feel.Like other Zhang Yimou films, Raise the Red Lantern is a visual delight.Dramatic but depressing drama
This movie was no doubt, very dramatic.The whole movie seems to be a display of ow these women were victimized by their husband and the...Published 4 days ago by Willie X.Chinese culture or who simply enjoys watching...Typical Pandering from Zhang Yimou
The only thing that saves this movie is Gong Li's usual brilliant performance, although I have been very disappointed with some of the roles that she has been taking just to make...This DVD version distributed by the actual distributors of the film is far superior to the previous bootleg version distributed by the those first bootleg DVD distributors.This must be seen over and over again...And then Gong Li is so, so good in this.Orientalism, but still Chinese
Yimou Zhang attacks the problem of creating a legitimate transnational film for the People's Republic of China; at the same time acceptable to his censors and popular enough...MGM World Film version
Amazon ported over the reviews from the previous DVD version released by Razor.Published 4 months ago by W.Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.It is either obscured behind thin curtains or out of shot.Banned in China for a short time in the early 1990s.If you marry a rich man, you will only be his concubine.Songlian: Let me be a concubine.International films about women (+girls): A list by John C.Have a shopping question?Ready for Your Resolutions?We've got plenty of ways to help you lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, and treat yourself better in our New Year, New You store.This offer applies only to Amazon.Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.Hours() * 3600 + newCurrentTime.Minutes() * 60 + currentTime.This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but over a million other items are.Available from these sellers.Fifty year old Chen has already three wives, each of them living in separate houses within the great castle.The competition between the wives is tough, as their master's attention carries power, status and privilege.Each night Chen must decide with which wife to spend the night and a red lantern is lit in front of the house of his choice.And each wife schemes and plots to make sure it's hers.Video (See Bestsellers in Video)Popular in these categories: (What's this?The film has a brittle and dry quality that is deliberate, but also suggestive of Zhang working through various explorations of his own style (which he resolved in his next film, The Story of Qiu Ju).Gao, Chu Xiao as Feipu, Baotian Li, Caifei He as Meishan (Third Wife), Cuifen Cao as Zhuoyan (Second Wife), Jingwu Ma as The Master, Qi Zhao as Housekeeper, Lin Kong as Yan'er, Jin Shuyuan as Yuru (First Wife), Ding Weimin as Songlian's mother, Cao Zhengyin as Old servant, Zhihgang Cui as Dr.Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet.See all 350 customer reviews...The easiest way to shoot video reviews.Raise the Red Lantern is a thinking, engrossing movie that dispenses with special effects and overwhelming scores and concentrates on story and acting.Zhang Yimou is famous for delivering biting criticism of the oppressive, delusional aspects of Chinese society.Raise the Red Lantern shows one very strong, independent woman's attempt to overcome thousands of years of historic oppression in early 20th ca China.Suffice to say the first thing you'll want to do once the movie is over is to watch it again.The mediocrity of these films becomes apparent when compared to indy films of the highest caliber, such as Raise the Red Lantern."Thanks for the valuable feedback you provided to other Amazon.Raise the Red Lantern is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful movies I have ever seen.The scene as they drag the third mistress, kicking and screaming to the tower of death, with the snow falling so peacefully onto the rooftops was chilling in its effect.This dichotomy is symbolized in the vibrant red lamps and the somber blue hue of the lamps when they are covered.In this manner, the mistresses are controlled.Songlian, a university student who, because of the death of her father, is forced to quit school.She chooses to marry a man of wealth.She is warned by her stepmother that she will be a concubine.She replies, isn't that our fate?Her cynicism and then her robust energy in seeking her ascendancy over the other sisters engages us and we identify with her struggle.The second mistress, who has given the master only a daughter, still dreams of having a son.The third mistress, an opera singer still vibrant and beautiful (in a fascinating performance by the intriguing Caifei He), uses her allure in vying for the master's attention.Gong Li, who plays Songlian, is very beautiful with a strength of character that one quite naturally admires.She has the gift, as does, for example, Julia Roberts, of being able to express a wide range of emotion with just a glance of her very expressive face.Serving as a foil to the mistresses, and perhaps as the most poignant victim of the concubine system, is the servant girl Yan'er, played with a compelling veracity by Kong Lin.But when the fourth mistress arrives, her dreams are shattered, and in her jealousy she hates Songlian and plots against her.Note well that the master is only hazily observed.He is as interchangeable as the harem masters on a beach of elephant seals.But because he has wealth, he can engage concubines who must compete with one another through him to find their station in life.One gets a sense of what it might be like in the harem system practiced by gorillas or the sheiks and warlords of old.Most people no doubt lament the life of the mistresses.Yet women in poor places may wish such a life upon themselves.But concubines are just prostitutes, really, one might say, trapped by a system of male privilege.The system does NOT favor males.It favors wealth and privilege.What does a man do with the capital he accumulates or inherits?If the system allows, he spends it on women and the assurance of his paternity.And why is that possible?Many women would rather be used by a man of wealth than rule the household of a nerd.The real horror depicted here, though, is in the brutality used to maintain the system, not in the polygamy itself.The women who follow the rules and beget the master's children, especially if they are sons, enjoy a pampered and secure existence Those who do not are dealt with severely, branded as mad, or even murdered.Was this review helpful to you?Harassed by her stepmother to get married for over three days, Songlian finally consents.When asked whom will she marry, Songlian answers that she will marry a rich man.Who Songlian states must be one hundred years old.The only mistress Songlian seems to be able to get along with is the Second Mistress, a pleasant faced older woman.It is within this environment that Songlian has come to live.However, Songlian is not scared to attack back even at the risk of the safety of others.Played by the stunning Gong Li, Songlian comes off as a strong, intelligent young woman who is unfortunately ensnared in a less than ideal situation.While living in luxury, one can sense the boredom she must feel.Like other Zhang Yimou films, Raise the Red Lantern is a visual delight.Dramatic but depressing drama
This movie was no doubt, very dramatic.However, I was expecting more girl power.Published 4 days ago by Willie X.Chinese culture or who simply enjoys watching...Typical Pandering from Zhang Yimou
The only thing that saves this movie is Gong Li's usual brilliant performance, although I have been very disappointed with some of the roles that she has been taking just to make...This DVD version distributed by the actual distributors of the film is far superior to the previous bootleg version distributed by the those first bootleg DVD distributors.One of the most exceptional films to come out of China
I had seen this film over ten years ago in a theater in Manhattan and was so impressed by this great story.Truly beautiful to see...Orientalism, but still Chinese
Yimou Zhang attacks the problem of creating a legitimate transnational film for the People's Republic of China; at the same time acceptable to his censors and popular enough...MGM World Film version
Amazon ported over the reviews from the previous DVD version released by Razor.That film is a mess when it comes to picture quality, this new one from MGM World Film is pristine...After heeding the numerous complaints regarding the poor quality of previous editions, I'm thrilled that MGM World films has issued a new DVD with a beautiful transfer.Literal Quality of the Film?Trivia"The Master's" face is never seen.It is either obscured behind thin curtains or out of shot.QuotesSonglian's mother: Rich man?Songlian: Let me be a concubine.Ready for Your Resolutions?We've got plenty of ways to help you lose weight, exercise more, quit smoking, and treat yourself better in our New Year, New You store.Size GPS Widescreen editions of TomTom's popular ONE GPS navigators feature a 4.Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.Track your recent orders.You have no recently viewed items or searches.Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.Quicklinks
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plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.After her father's death, nineteen year old Songlian is forced to marry Chen Zuoqian...Plot Synopsis:
This plot synopsis is empty.Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.Yuru (First Wife)Ding Weimin ...Meishan (Third Wife)Zhuoyan (Second Wife)The MasterHousekeeperYan'erYuru (First Wife)Old servantDr.If you marry a rich man, you will only be his concubine.Isn't that the fate of a woman?Sorry, there was a problem collecting your vote.The film was so refreshing and
exciting for me, yet it was also quite a dark film.Zhang Yimou was brilliant with this one.If you're a lover of great cinema, then this is a must.Was the above comment useful to you?You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers.They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update.Atonement
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hbx.Cookie('xs_token', token, null, '.In Raise the Red Lantern we see the very formalized story of a woman who is a concubine to a wealthy man and becomes his fourth mistress.As we see the world revealed through her eyes it becomes more and more complex as it moves to an inevitable conclusion. |
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![Children Of Bodom : [1999] Hatebreeder](/covers/48/481/alb_81453_th.jpg "Children Of Bodom : [1999] Hatebreeder")
