catalogue
- 1synopsis
- 2credits
- ▪casting
- ▪Staff list
- 3Role introduction
- 4Music soundtrack
- 5Behind the scenes production
- ▪Creation background
- ▪Find a view
- ▪casting
- ▪Behind the scenes
- ▪Creative company
- 6Film feature
- ▪Film theme
- ▪Dominant tone
Raise the Red Lantern was written by
Zhang Yimou
Directed by Ni Zhen and co-written by Su Tong,
Gong Li
,
He Saifei
,
Ma Jingwu
,
Cao Cuifen
, Zhou Qi,
Kong Lin
,
Kim Suwon
Such as starring in the drama
[12]
. The film was released in Italy and Canada on September 10, 1991, followed by France on December 20, 1991, Spain on February 12, 1992, the Netherlands on February 14, 1992, the United Kingdom on February 21, 1992, and the United States on March 13, 1992
[7]
.
Raise the Red Lantern
Su Tong
The novel
Have many wives and concubines
"Was adapted
[13
]
. The film revolves around the topic of feudal ethics, tells the story of several concubines of a big family in the Republic of China, and leads to a series of tragedies
[14
]
. On March 13, 1992, the film was released in North America, making $2.6 million at the box office, setting the record for the highest box office for a Chinese-language film in North America at the time
[15
]
.
In 1991, the film won the St. Mark's Silver Lion Award at the 48th Venice International Film Festival
[1]
. Nominated in 1992
The Academy Award
Best Foreign Language Film, second in the series
Chrysanthemum bean
The film is the second Chinese film to be nominated for the award
[16
]
. In the same year, the film was named one of the top ten Chinese films by the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards. In March 1992, Raise the Red Lantern was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 64th Academy Awards
[17
]
. In 2015, it was named the 28th best foreign language film of all time by the British "Empire" magazine, and is the highest-ranked mainland film
[18
]
.
- Chinese name
- Raise the Red Lantern
- Foreign name
- Raise the red lantern [5]
- Generic type
- Plot, love [5]
- Producing company
- China Film Co-production Company [8]
- Production area
- 中国大陆、中国香港、中国台湾 [6]
- Issuing company
-
China Film Corporation Limited
[5]
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer [5]
Alliance Communications Corporation [5] - Direct performance
- Zhang Yimou [5]
- dramatize
- Ni Zhen [5]
- Producer
- Feng Yiting [19]
- Main performance
- Gong Li [6] , He Saifei [6] , Ma Jingwu [6] , Cao Cuifen [6] , Zhou Qi [6] , Kong Lin [6] , Kim Suwon
- Film length
- 124 minutes [15 ]
- Release time
- September 10, 1991 [5]
- Ticket office
- $26,03,061 [10] (as of March 20, 2024)
- Dialogue language
- Mandarin [7]
- chroma
- Chroma [7]
- Major awards
-
48th Venice International Film Festival
-
Silver Lion
[11]
The 36th David Prize in Italy Best Foreign language Film [11]
International Society of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Language Film [11]
The 64th Academy Awards Nominated for best Foreign Language film [11] - Online playback platform
- 1905 Film Network [9]
During the period of the Republic of China, the rich Chen Zuoqian (Ma Jingwu is acted the role of) has his wife Yu Ruu (Jin Shuyuan is acted the role of), the second aunt too Zhuo Yun (Cao Cuifen is acted the role of) and the third aunt too Mei Shan (He Saifei is acted the role of). 19 years old female college student Song Lian (Gong Li is acted the role of) because of family changes forced to drop out of school to marry into Chen Fu, become Chen master's four aunt too. According to the rules of the Chen house, when Master Chen wants to spend the night with his aunt, a big red lantern will be hung high in front of the aunt's door, but if he commits a wrong offence against Master, he will be "blocked".
[5]
.
Young beautiful song lotus into Chen Fu become involved in a few rooms of the wife infest, dream into concubine servant girl wild goose son (Kong Lin is acted the role of) is also full of hostility to her. Gradually out of favor song Lian pretended to be pregnant, so that his door hung up the "eternal light". But wild goose son found the truth when washing clothes for her, and will inform the matter to two aunt too Zhuoyun, song lian was "blocked light". Soon after, song lotus caught wild goose son hidden old lantern handle, will expose the matter. Geese kneel in the snow but always refused to admit their mistakes, and eventually died. Goose son's death makes song lotus in a trance, often borrow wine to drown sorrows. Once drunk, she accidentally said broke the secret of three aunt too Meishan and high doctor fornication, Meishan was hanged in Chenfu corner house, song lotus mental breakdown, became crazy. The following spring, Chen Fu ushered in the fifth room concubine, has been crazy song Lian wearing female students in Chen Fu wandering
[5]
[39]
.
- Ma Jingwu 饰 Chen Zuoqian
- DUB-
- remark My Lord
- Cao Cuifen 饰 Zhuo Yun
- DUB-
- remark Second wife
- Zhou Qi 饰 Chen Daoshun
- DUB-
- remark Majordomo
- Kong Lin 饰 Wild goose
- DUB-
- remark Songlian servant girl
- Kim Suwon 饰 Yu Ru
- DUB-
- remark Eldest wife
- Ding Weimin 饰 Song Ma
- DUB-
- Cao Zengyin 饰 lamplighter
- DUB-
- Cui Zhigang 饰 Dr. Gao
- DUB-
- First dawn 饰 Femura
- DUB-
- Xu Wei 饰 Aunt Cao Er
- DUB-
- Zhang Yufang 饰 -
- DUB-
- Ma Jing 饰 -
- DUB-
- Chen Yu 饰 -
- DUB-
- Jia Shaowu 饰 -
- DUB-
- Chen Zhigang 饰 -
- DUB-
- Zhang Yajuan 饰 -
- DUB-
- Ping Yiming 饰 -
- DUB-
- Minnan 饰 -
- DUB-
Reference materials:
[19]
[44]
| producer | Qiu Fusheng |
| Production MANAGER: | Feng Yiting |
| Supervise the production of | Hou Hsiao-hsien,Zhang Wenze,Madhoa |
| director | Zhang Yimou |
| Assistant Director (Assistant) | Zhang Hanjie,Gao Jingwen |
| WRITER | Su Tong,Ni Zhen |
| shoot | Zhao Fei,Poplar wheel,Lu Hongyi(Associate),Shang Yong(Associate) |
| Background music | Zhao Jiping,Naoki Tachikawa(Music Producer),Toshiyuki Honta(Arrangement) |
| montage | Du Yuan |
| property | Tauben's letter,Guo Mingliang |
| Art design | Cao Jiuping,Zhang Jianqun(Associate) |
| Modeling design | Sun Wei |
| Fashion design | Tong Humiao,Huang Lihua |
| lamplight | Zeng Junwei,Liu Zhihua(Associate) |
| Recorded AT | Li Lanhua,Dang Wang(Associate) |
| Stage management | Zhang Ying,An Wei |
| Set designer | Hu Zhongquan |
Reference materials:
[19]
[44]
Song Lian
ACTORS
Gong Li
DUB
-
Song Lian, was rich stepmother married Chen master do the fourth room wife. Song lotus new arrival will be a few previous wives run the cry of bitterness, she wants to use false pregnancy to win master's favor. Do not want to be fantasy to do Chen wife maid goose son see through, told the second wife. When Chen master learned that Songlian and not pregnant, ordered the lights sealed. Song Lian is crazy after losing favor.
[39]
Meshan
ACTORS
He Saifei
DUB
-
Meishan is Chen master's third room wife, was a famous dancer in the theater, handsome appearance, mischievous temperament, after cheating with Chen Fu doctor Mr. Gao, was reported by the second wife, was killed in the cottage on the floor.
[40]
Zhuo Yun
ACTORS
Cao Cuifen
DUB
-
Zhuo Yun is Chen master's second wife, the second wife sweet talk Bodhisattva face, but behind the smile hidden knife, scorpion heart.
[40]
Eldest wife
ACTORS
Kim Suwon
DUB
-
Big wife fat fat, in the lotus eyes afraid of a hundred years old, is an entry will follow the old rules of the "Ma Lie doctrine old lady".
[39]
Wild goose
ACTORS
Kong Lin
DUB
-
Praise lotus servant goose son dream into a concubine, full of hostility to praise lotus. So she secretly to two aunt too news, exposed the lotus false pregnancy secret, lotus was "sealed light". Soon after, song lotus caught wild goose son hidden old lantern handle, will expose the matter. Geese kneel in the snow but always refused to admit their mistakes, and eventually died.
[39]
Chen Zuoqian
ACTORS
Ma Jingwu
DUB
-
Chen Zuoqian is the only master of the Chen family, the patriarch of the feudal family, and has the supreme authority in the family. He was old, but he still lusted after the beauty of young women, and used his concubines as tools of his own enjoyment and procreation, for whom he had neither affection nor respect. It was his ruthlessness that eventually killed Meishan and drove Songlian crazy.
|
Album information
|
track
|
Singer
|
|---|---|---|
|
Album category: Studio album
Language: Pure music
Producer: Jiping Zhao
Date: 10 May 1994
|
1. Summer
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
2. Flute Solo
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
3. The Record
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
4. Autumn
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
5. Births/The Peking Theme
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
6. Pregnancy/Yan'er's Punishment
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
7, Meishan Sings
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
8. Young Master Returns/Meishan's Punisment
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
9. Open Credits/Prologue/Zhouyun/Lanterns
|
Zhao Jiping
|
|
|
10, First Night with Master/Alone on First Night/Second Night/Third Night
|
Zhao Jiping
|
Music conductor: Yan Huichang
[44]
Solo: Zhang Weiliang
[44]
Chorus: Central Chinese Orchestra chorus
[44]
Reference materials:
[20]
In 1990, Su Tong's novel "Wives and Concubines" was published in "Harvest". After Zhang Yimou was recommended to read it, he had the idea of adapting it into a film and immediately contacted Su Tong to buy the copyright
[1]
. In 1991, Wives and Concubines was adapted into a film by Zhang Yimou and renamed Raise the Red Lantern.
[22
]
. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the novel is a bold adaptation of Su Tong's "Wives and Concubines." While the original film depicts the relaxed life of a small town in the south of the Yangtze River, the film is set in the Shanxi Qiao family compound.
[43
]
The original "Wives and Concubines" is set in a southern mansion, so Zhang Yimou originally planned to shoot in the south. However, he chose to shoot in Shanxi because of his experience of shooting "Old Well", considering the characteristics of ancient buildings and folk houses in Shanxi
[21]
. Qiaojia courtyard looks majestic like a castle, but the interior is full of magnificence, rich levels, changeable artistic conception, with profound architectural aesthetics and folklore research value. Into the courtyard, first see straight stone Yongdao and Qiao ancestral temple. There are six courtyards on both sides of the corridor, the old courtyard, the northwest courtyard and the study courtyard in the north, and the southeast courtyard, the southwest courtyard and the new courtyard in the south. Each hospital follows the structure of "five inside and three outside", with four built-in main buildings, six gatehouses, watchhouses, jumping pavilions, and walkways connecting between the roofs
[42
]
. The second-floor platform design of Qiao's courtyard provides him with an ideal shooting Angle and composition inspiration, and its square perspective line just reflects the theme he wants to express -- "rules".
[3]
[21]
.
In preparation for the film, director Zhang Yimou invited Ma Jingwu to play the lead role in Raise the Red Lantern. Although Ma was not interested in the role of Master Chen in the original, Zhang Yimou's adaptation and the professionalism of the film team eventually convinced him to join.
[23]
For the casting of third Aunt Mei Shan, the directors wanted actors with both theatre and film experience. After screening, He Saifei, a Yue opera actor, was selected for the role. In order to interpret Mei Shan, He Saifei cleverly integrated the drama elements and successfully shaped the character's image and psychological characteristics
[24]
.
Director Zhang Yimou asked the actors to practice the script a month in advance before shooting. Kong designed three spitting details for the Yan 'er character. At the time of shooting, the shot took three shots, and finally chose the most vicious one
[25]
.
In Raise the Red Lantern, Zhang Yimou cleverly introduces lighting rules and other rules to create a unique picture and atmosphere. To achieve the desired effect, the production team replaced three batches of lanterns in pursuit of bigger and brighter. Although he has funding from Hong Kong and Taiwan, Zhang Yimou still adheres to the concept of artistic film shooting and pays attention to the balance and symmetry of picture composition
[23]
.
|
Production company
|
1. Era International Co., LTD. Taiwan, China
2. China Film Co-Production Company, China
3. Century Communications
4. ERA International
5. Salon Multimedia Centre LTD
6. ERA International
|
|---|---|
|
Issuing company
|
1. China Film Corporation China
2. Metro-goldwyn-mayer United States
3. Alliance Communications Corporation Canada
4. Alliance Releasing Home Video
5. Cannes Home Video Brazil
6. Film Arte Argentina
7. Golem Distribucion S.L. Spain
8. Momentum Pictures UK
9. Orion Classics USA
10. Sandrew Film & Teater
11. Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) Argentina
12. AMLF France
13. MGM Home Entertainment Canada
14. MGM Home Entertainment United States
15. Krause & Schneider Multimedia (KSM) Germany
|
Reference materials:
[33]
Based on the original work, Raise the Red Lantern, directed by Zhang Yimou, focuses on the struggle between the four wives of the Chen family for favor, revealing the mentality and behavior unconsciously displayed by women in bondage and oppression. In the film, the female characters, such as Songlian, show their rebellious characteristics, but in the end, they still cannot escape the fate of male domination. They are manipulated by others, some die tragically, others have mental breakdowns
[27
]
.
In the film Raise the Red Lantern, the Chen family compound serves as the central scene of the story, revealing the tragic fate of women under the oppression of feudal society. The main color of the film is grey blue, creating a depressing atmosphere, and the choice of this color also reflects the era and family background of the hostess from the side. At the same time, the film boldly uses red lanterns embellished with red, which not only breaks the visual repression of gray blue, but also deepens the tragic effect. The combination of gray blue and red creates a depressing visual tone in the film as a whole
[28
]
.
Ma Jingwu, who plays Master Chen, does not have any frontal shots in the film and makes his presence felt mainly by voice, but he does a good job of portraying a ruthless feudal paternalistic figure
[29
]
.
At the beginning of the film, Song Lian, the fourth wife played by Gong, carries a box into a high house with a carved fence and painted tile paths. As the subjective lens gradually draws away, the figures in the picture become smaller and smaller, and the courtyard becomes larger and larger. The cold and gloomy atmosphere implies a theme that is ready to come out
[30
]
.
The film "Raise the Red Lantern" directed by Zhang Yimou does not interfere with each other in sound effect. It adopts symphonic suites, Beijing style gongs and drums, and the "circular circle" produced by the introduction of Xi PI Liu in Beijing Opera as the material. The combination form of female chorus without words, band and Peking Opera percussion is novel and unique. The dense drumming at the beginning of the opera creates a strong historical atmosphere, and the sound of beating feet is also used by the director as the soundtrack for the film. The film ends with girls singing, deep cello accompaniment and gongs and drums, further deepening the tragic fate of the characters
[31
]
.
|
time
|
session
|
Awards
|
Win a prize
|
result
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The year 1991
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
Golden Lion Prize
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
nominate
|
||
|
Elverano Tari Award
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
The Feibich Award
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
Awards for films about women
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
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One of the top ten Chinese films
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
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One of the top ten Chinese films
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
International Society of Film Critics Award
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
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The year 1992
|
Best photography
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
Best foreign language film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
nominate
|
||
|
Best foreign language film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
nominate
|
||
|
Best foreign language film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
Best Foreign actress
|
nominate
|
|||
|
International Society of Film Critics Award
|
Best foreign language film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
|
|
Best Cinematography Award
|
||||
|
Best actress
|
Gong Li
|
nominate
|
||
|
Spanish International Film Festival
|
Best Cinematography Award
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
The year 1993
|
The 16th Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards
|
Best feature Film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
|
Best actress
|
||||
|
Best supporting actress
|
nominate
|
|||
|
Acting Academy Award
|
Win a prize
|
|||
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New York Film Critics Circle
|
Best Foreign language Film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
|
|
Belgian Film Critics Association Award
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
|
Best Foreign language Film
|
Raise the Red Lantern
|
Win a prize
|
||
Source of information:
[1]
[4]
[26]
Wuhan Film Company seized on the star power and sensation at home and abroad of Raise the Red Lantern, directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Gong Li, and vigorously carried out promotional activities, holding special symposia on radio and broadcasting film trailers on television. In order to adapt to the market economy, the city's film company for the first time will be "Raise the Red Lantern" premiere rights in the city's movie theaters. The film was awarded the premiere rights by the Wisco Workers' Theatre and received a good reception
[32
]
.
|
Country/region
|
Release/release time
|
|---|---|
|
Italy, Canada
|
September 10, 1991
|
|
Sweden
|
The year 1991
|
|
France
|
December 20, 1991
|
|
Spain
|
February 12, 1992
|
|
Belgium
|
February 13, 1992
|
|
Netherlands
|
14 February 1992
|
|
Britain
|
21 February 1992
|
|
America
|
13 March 1992
|
|
Japan
|
April 11, 1992
|
|
Argentina
|
23 April 1992
|
|
Sweden
|
July 3, 1992
|
|
Germany
|
July 30, 1992
|
|
Finland
|
August 7, 1992
|
|
Australia
|
October 22, 1992
|
|
Portugal
|
22 January 1993
|
|
Denmark
|
16 July 1993
|
|
Czech Republic
|
1 March 1999
|
|
Sweden
|
November 22, 2009
|
Reference materials:
[33]
|
district
|
Cumulative box office (US $)
|
|---|---|
|
global
|
2603061
[10]
|
|
WEBSITE
|
mark
|
Number of evaluators
|
source
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1905 Film
|
9.0/10
|
1741
|
[8]
|
|
Mtime
|
7.9/10
|
3898
|
[5]
|
|
IMDb
|
8.1/10
|
35000
|
[10]
|
|
Rotten Tomatoes
|
97/100(freshness)
94/100(popcorn value)
|
29(Freshness)
10000+(popcorn value)
|
[34]
|
(as of March 12, 2024)
Adapted from Su Tong's novella "Wives and Concubines", the film adheres to and develops the theme and style of the original work, reflecting the life scene and the corresponding survival principles of the feudal family of "polygamy". The heroine Songlian is the core character of the work, and she is educated, in such a grim and sinister living environment of Chen Fu. In order to have a place, personality is gradually distorted and deformed. Actress Gong Li is very successful in the creation of Song Lian, and He Saifei, who plays the third aunt, and Cao Cuifen, who plays the second aunt, also have an excellent performance in the film. Ma Jingwu, who plays Master Chen, does not have any frontal shots in the film and makes his presence felt mainly by voice, but he brings to life a ruthless feudal paternalistic figure
[38]
. (Commentary by Xihua University News Center)
From the perspective of the overall level and comprehensive strength of the film, the film is an inspiring one among Zhang Yimou's literary works. The film itself does not have too many overlapping sound scenes, nor any post-added sound effects, such as in order to show the dominance of the dark forces, the dialogue of the unseen master is relatively simple, but very effective, as if the master does not exist, but holds the life and death of everyone in the compound. It can be said that Zhang Yimou's film resembles the silent style of South Korean director Kim Ki-duk, and Zhang Yimou makes good use of Beijing Opera and drums, so that the sound does not interfere with each other
[2]
. (Sina Entertainment review)
On October 28, 2011, Liang Zhenhua, associate professor of Beijing Normal University, said in an interview with China Art Daily
[41]
Since the release of Raise the Red Lantern, there has been no shortage of controversy. For example, some scholars have criticized the phenomenon of fake folk customs in the film. In order to conform to the image presentation, Zhang Yimou created a series of rituals about lighting and sealing lamps, which are not found in novels, nor in Chinese folk customs
[37]
.
Raise the Red Lantern was adapted in Taiwan in 1992. Directed by Pu Teng Jin and Zheng Jianrong, the TV version, starring Liu Dechai, Chen Yulian, Qin Feng and others, greatly revises the book and the film's setting
[36]
.
In 2001, Zhang Yimou, together with Zhao Ruheng, head of the Central Ballet, Chen Qigang, a Chinese musician living in France, Wang Xinpeng, a famous Chinese choreographer of German nationality, and others adapted the ballet version of Raise the Red Lantern
[35]
.
