Raise The Red Lantern (Da Hong Deng Long Gao Gao Gua)
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(out of 5)
A young country girl (Li Gong) is sent to live in the mansion of a wealthy man to be his fourth wife. In this household, a red lantern is raised above the door of any one of the four wives to denote whom the master chooses to spend his evening with, and soon our heroine realizes that the process of getting the lantern above her door for as long as possible is a fight for status and survival. Her wits are sharpened when she meets her three rivals (all of whom are older than her) and is introduced to a world of Do or Die. Fantastic photography is just the starting point of this incredible journey, one highlighted by terrific acting, a brilliant script, and Yimou’s unwavering direction.
Directed by Yimou Zhang
Screenplay by Ni Zhen, based on the novel by Su Tong
Cinematography by Lun Yang, Fei Zhao
Produced by Fu-Sheng Chiu
Music by Naoki Tachikawa, Jiping Zhao
Production Design by Juiping Cao
Costume Design by Huamiao Tong
Film Editing by Yuan Du
Film Festivals: Venice 1991
Cast Tags: Chu Xiao, Cuifen Cao, Jingwu Ma, Li Gong, Lin Kong, Qi Zhao, Saifei He, Shuyuan Jin, Weimin Ding, Zhengyin Cao, Zhihgang Cui
Academy Award Nomination
Best Foreign Language Film (Hong Kong)
New York Film Critics Award
Best Foreign Language Film
Nomination
Best Cinematographer (Fei Zhao)
Los Angeles Film Critics Award
Best Cinematography (Fei Zhao)
Nomination
Best Foreign Film (Yimou Zhang)
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Cinematography (Fei Zhao)
Best Foreign Language Film
Nomination
Best Actress (Gong Li)
National Board Of Review Award
Top Five Foreign Films
Venice Film Festival Award
Silver Lion (tie)
Independent Spirit Award Nomination
Best Foreign Film
British Academy Award
Best Film not in the English Language
Boston Film Critics Award
Best Foreign Language Film
