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Essay on Raise The Red Lantern
Director Zhang Yimou belongs to the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, known for making beautiful, complex period pieces that manage to mostly slip criticism of the communist government under the radar of the censor board. His film Raise the Red Lantern is beautifully photographed using a process that captures the vividness of the many colors employed by the director. Raise the Red Lantern is visually stunning, and the appeal to the eye only heightens the movie's emotional power. The fullness of reds, oranges, and yellows is unlike anything that has been seen in an American film for years.
Zhang clearly understands at least one of the fundamental rules of filmmaking: that a great-looking picture will enhance a superior story. (Berardinelli, 1996)
The film is beautifully shot, considering that there is basically one set used for the entire work: the large, multi-family house. It is carefully divided into seasons (each marked with calligraphy between chapters) and each season brings a new level of awareness to the characters as well as the viewer in this "key-hole" look into an era long-past in China's culture.
The music is authentic throughout and it blends beautifully with the cinematography and acting, making this a near-perfect film. The only criticism would be that in places the dialog (which is entirely in Chinese with subtitles) is a bit muddy, but that would only matter to a Chinese-speaking person.
The performances, cinematography and attention to detail here are magnificent.
The film is a bit slow in places (at a running time of more than two hours it could be shorter), but it is so involving that the audience probably will not mind. (Hicks, deseretnews.com/movies/view/1,1257,1499,00.html)
Zhang furthers the rarefied atmosphere with formal, visual compositions. The camera looks at its subject head-on, with few gimmicks. It shows the outside of the women's bedroom doors from....
