Movieo
Poster for Raise the Red Lantern

Raise the Red Lantern

China, 1920. One Master, Four Wives.

1991 · 2h 5m · PG Drama
Directed by Zhang Yimou

Seen it?

Overview

In 1920s China, 19-year-old Songlian becomes a concubine of a powerful lord and is forced to compete with his three wives for the privileges gained.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
96%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Visually ravishing and emotionally cold, Zhang's third feature is one long series of pushes and pulls.

Rob Nelson, Village Voice
Fresh

A beautifully crafted and richly detailed feat of consciousness-raising and a serious drama with the verve of a good soap opera.

Janet Maslin, New York Times
Fresh

Gong Li delivers a performance of exquisite expressiveness that, like the film itself, is unnerving in its emotional nakedness.

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Fresh

A near-perfect movie that often recalls the visual purity and intensity of silent films.

John Hartl, Film.com
Fresh

In purely aesthetic terms, Raise the Red Lantern is breathtaking.

Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films