Raise the Red Lantern
Seen it?1991 | 125 min | Drama
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (8.0 out of 10) and it made about 17 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Emotional (bring tissues).
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 5 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesStrong
8.0 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 BAFTA: Best Film Not in the English Language. Also nominated for 1 Oscar. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$17 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 110K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Zhang Yimou
- Gong LiSonglian
- He SaifeiMeishan
- Cao CuifenZhuoyun
- Kong LinYan'er
- Jin ShuyuanYuru
- Ma JingwuChen Zuoqian
- Cui ZhigangDoctor Gao
- Zhao QiHousekeeper
- Chu XiaoFeipu
- Cao ZengyinOld Servant