Raise the Red Lantern
Li Gong (Memoirs of a Geisha) becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy lord in this period drama from veteran Chinese director Yimou Zhang (House of Flying Daggers).
China in the 1920s. After her father's death, 19-year-old Songlian (Gong) is forced to marry the much older lord of a powerful family. With three wives already, each living in a separate house within the great castle, there is fierce competition for his attention and the privileges that are gained...
Less1991Rating: PG, Adult themes125 minsChina, Hong Kong, TaiwanMandarin with English subtitles
DramaRomanceFestival & Independent
- Director:
- Yimou Zhang ('House of Flying Daggers', 'Hero', 'Curse of the Golden Flower')
- Writer:
- Ni Zhen
- Cast:
- Li GongSaifei HeJingwu MaCuifen CaoQi ZhaoLin KongShuyuan JinWeimin Ding
Raise the Red Lantern | Awards
Winner of the Elvira Notari Prize (Zhang), the FIPRESCI Prize (Zhang) and the Silver Lion, 1991 Venice Film Festival
Raise the Red Lantern | Reviews
97%29 reviewsRotten Tomatoes® Score
All reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
The New York Times
A beautifully crafted and richly detailed feat of consciousness-raising and a serious drama with the verve of a good soap opera.
Full review
Rolling Stone
Gong Li delivers a performance of exquisite expressiveness that, like the film itself, is unnerving in its emotional nakedness.
Full review
Raise the Red Lantern | Release Details
We aren’t aware of any way to watch Raise the Red Lantern in New Zealand. If we’ve got that wrong, please contact us.