Friday, December 28, 2007
Raise the Red Lantern
I was blown away by watching Raise the Red Lantern. It was cinematographic masterpiece. I have to agree with reviewers that the house of the master is definitely a character within the movie as well. This elaborate setting provides the stage for a very striking tale of power, deceit, and manipulation. Though Meishan was not the main character of the movie she interested me the most. The ex-opera singer who decided to marry the feudal lord. The movie never said why, but it is a thought provoking question. Why did the successful singer who had even been recorded, decide to leave her promising career. She was definitely a worthy opponent in the power struggle. She was younger than the first two wives and she possessed an amazing singing talent. She used this to her advantage more than once. She was crafty and intelligent her strategy to gain the master's favor, but she was also wanted a love that was all her own. I think this desire for a love that she wouldn't have to share brought her in to the fatal love triangle with Dr. Gao. Even though Songlian accidentally betrays her to Zhouyun, it is still betrayl in my eyes. When Zhouyun discovers Meishan and Dr. Gao in a compromising position in the hotel,it puts Meishan in irreprable downward spiral. Meishan is punished and put to death for her affair, and her death is never even acknowledged by the family. As the servant said "What must be done, was done." in accordance with the custom. A horrific death by hanging for Meishan.
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2 comments:
I thought of servants as maid who their lives are owned by the mistresses kind of. The hardest scene was to watch the fourth wife going mad, as much as she was educated, her character could have been more serious and manageble to stress. Instead she was not making sense at times and toward the end. That was a shame, I just did not like to see her loosing control of her behavior. It was a very sad ending!
Leslie, I love the idea of the house being a character…a very ominous one, I’d say. I was unable to get a copy of the movie, but I saw it when it was first released. The foreign films I enjoy most are those set in China. I agree that Meishan was indeed a strong character. From what I remember, she was very jealous of Songlian and I was reminded from a review that I read that she'd sing from the roof the morning after the master spent the night with Songlian. What a fiesty spirit.
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