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.
