Is Raise the Red Lantern sad?

Yes, very. More sad than 99% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Does Raise the Red Lantern end with hope?

No. Less hopeful than 98% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Raise the Red Lantern one of a kind?

Yes, very. More singular than 94% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Raise the Red Lantern easy watching?

No. Less comforting than 92% of well-known films. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Raise the Red Lantern violent?

About average. Almost exactly mid-range for a well-known film. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Is Raise the Red Lantern scary?

About average. Almost exactly mid-range for a well-known film. This describes how the film comes across as a whole, measured against other well-known films; it is not a content list.

Raise the Red Lantern

Name: Raise the Red Lantern
Genre: Drama
Released: 1991
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 7.9
Cast: Gong Li, He Saifei, Cao Cuifen, Kong Lin, Zhao Qi

China, 1920. One Master, Four Wives.

Directed by Zhang Yimou

Produced by ERA International, China Film Co-Production

1991125 min7.9 / 10

A visually sumptuous but deeply oppressive portrait of a young woman trapped in a hierarchical, competitive system of polygamy where survival depends on manipulation and favor.

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.

Clusters

Betrayal, Downfall, Survival Corrupted by Ambition Complicity Under Pressure Unresolved Grief Stories Sexy Romance Films

Genres

Drama

Keywords

Competition Marriage Romantic Rivalry Polygamy Concubine Tragedy Wealth Period Drama Intrigue Oppression 1920s

Where to watch

Not available in United States — it streams in other countries.

Questions people ask

Is Raise the Red Lantern sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of films.
Does Raise the Red Lantern end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 98% of films.
Is Raise the Red Lantern one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 94% of films.
Is Raise the Red Lantern easy watching? No. Less comforting than 92% of films.
Is Raise the Red Lantern violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Raise the Red Lantern scary? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.