I chose film “Raise the Red Lantern” as alternate film to review. I though the film did an excellent job of capturing the role of women as concubines in China’s Confucian society. It displayed the role that women were placed in and considered the norm during that time. Having more than one wife was a signal or great power and respect. I found it interesting how the director implemented the four seasons into film. I took it as each season representing the personality each wife. Think about it. Winter represented the first mistress-old, firm, grim, and showed very little emotions. Fall represented the second mistress-sneaky, deceptive, and forever changing. Summer represented the third mistress-unpredictable, hot tempered, and outspoken. Spring represented Songlian, the forth mistress-refreshing, new life, and energetic. That’s how I interpreted it. However, each woman was definitely different and interjected individual personalities.
Unlike several of the other films that we have reviewed, which divided countries due to religious and political differences, Raise the Red Lantern symbolized the division of women. A division that was so strong that forced at least five women (to include Yan’er) to hate and betray one another for the affection and attention of a man. It was like a competition, which ultimately stole to soles of each woman and inflicted death on two. The notion of having several wives were not only acceptable in China, but many other countries that consider women as less than equal practice this method as well. This is a practice, in my opinion, that cripples women and entrap them mentally for a lifetime.
Overall, I thought it was a good film. I kept my attention throughout. If I could change one thing about the film, it would be the beginning because it started out slow and lacked dialogue. However, it picked up and finished strong.
Unlike several of the other films that we have reviewed, which divided countries due to religious and political differences, Raise the Red Lantern symbolized the division of women. A division that was so strong that forced at least five women (to include Yan’er) to hate and betray one another for the affection and attention of a man. It was like a competition, which ultimately stole to soles of each woman and inflicted death on two. The notion of having several wives were not only acceptable in China, but many other countries that consider women as less than equal practice this method as well. This is a practice, in my opinion, that cripples women and entrap them mentally for a lifetime.
Overall, I thought it was a good film. I kept my attention throughout. If I could change one thing about the film, it would be the beginning because it started out slow and lacked dialogue. However, it picked up and finished strong.
3 comments:
Excellent KT--interesting take on the change of seasons in particular. Also, I think that you and several others have really pegged the key question that the film illustrates, that is, how patriarchy works: the "master," who we hardly even see in the film as several of you have noted, never really raises a finger nor has to--he rules through the competition, which he creates of course, among and between the other women! Jeff
That competition between women is seen in Western cultures as well. But as women age, we tend to value our relationships with our female friends, and don't feel as threatened by each other because of men. This has been documented by several studies, and I see it anecdotally in my own life, having gone through my 20s, 30s, and almost all of my 40s. There's probably an anthropological reason for this gradual reckoning that the Chen women felt forced to deny. Even the eldest mistress, while not competitive, sought not to engage the other mistresses, but to remark about "sin" when she met mistress 4.
Even though it's been several years since I've seen this film, it impacted me greatly and I remember quite a bit about it. I love your the way you connect the personalities of the wives with the seasons--very clever and very accurate.
Also, Lisa brings up the idea that as women age, we "value our relationships with our female friends, and don't feel as threatened by each other..." The wives weren't able to bond because of the fierce competition. They had no one to turn to for support. I can't imagine such a plight. I rely on my female and even some male friends to get me through some situations. And I know of lots of divorced families that spend time with their former wives or husbands, bringing the "new" wife/husband and family along. It seems a bit odd to me, but seems to work for a lot of families.
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