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“Raise the Red Lantern” A film by Yimou Zhang Raise the Red Lantern is a film that challenges the morals and traditions of Chinese society in the 1920s. The director, Yimou Zhang, evokes a wide range of emotions in his portrayal of the treatment of women in this culture; through film techniques such as the soundtrack, framing and camera position and the use of symbolic objects and traditions. Zhang uses these elements to create a moving film that found itself banned in its own country. From the very beginning of the film, the soundtrack, or lack of it, is able to influence the feelings and emotions of the audience. The traditional Chinese music, of gongs and bells, played during the introduction of the film establishes the definitive Chinese culture. This is a contrast to the usual “Americanised” theme music. The next scene cuts to Songlian, with a stark headshot and no music at all. There is only the voice, of Songlian’s mother, who speaks to her off-screen. The silence is able to evoke emotion in the audience as they are thrust into contact with this initial character. If the audience is Western European, the custom of being sent to a man’s house to be his multiple mistress is unheard of and immoral. Through the absence of soundtrack Zhang creates a despairing emotion, like the silence of inner turmoil. To add to this influence of silence on the audience, all the sounds, of footsteps, voices and especially the blowing out of the lanterns, echoe around the compound. This evokes a feeling of emptiness and alienation in the audience.
Approximate Word count = 1059
Approximate Pages = 4.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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