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Raise the Red Lantern
Raise the Red Lantern

Raise the Red Lantern

December 18, 1991· 2h 5m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score8.0

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.

Critics Sentiment

Critics8.0
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
|
8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
17 reviews·Last updated 2mo ago
Peak Moment

Third Mistress Meishan executed for adultery on rooftop

9.1at 1h 56m
Lowest Moment

Yan'er dies in hospital saying Songlian's name

5.8at 1h 40m
Biggest Swing

The dramatic drop from Meishan's affair revelation (7.3) to Yan'er's tragic death (5.8) shows how the household's toxic dynamics lead to devastating consequences.

Critics universally praised the film's visual beauty and Gong Li's performance, maintaining high scores throughout despite the increasingly dark narrative. The sentiment dips significantly during the tragic consequences in the final act but recovers as reviewers appreciated the powerful, haunting conclusion. The film succeeds as both stunning cinematography and compelling human drama.

17 reviews analyzed|Sources: Critic_blog, Imdb, Tmdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

0 of 8 rated

Songlian forced to marry Master Chen as fourth wife
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Songlian arrives at Master Chen's vast estate compound
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Second Mistress Zhuoyun befriends Songlian with gifts
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Songlian finds forbidden red lanterns in Yan'er's room
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Doctor Gao exposes Songlian's fake pregnancy to Master
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Yan'er dies in hospital saying Songlian's name⬇ Lowest moment
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Third Mistress Meishan executed for adultery on rooftop⬆ Peak moment
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Songlian walks courtyard in madness as ghost-like figure
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