The family institution is central to Chinese culture, as according to Confucian philosophy, it is believed that only when families are well run, will the state also be well governed. Raise the Red Lantern portrays life in a stifling and constrictive sanheyuan or Chinese courtyard house (which usually belong to families established for many generations). The film was banned in its home country and never made it to the silver screen in China after the ban was lifted, it was “marginalised” and only shown on television.Īccording to Sheldon Lu, the Fifth Generation filmmakers (such as Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang and Zhang) were part of a nationwide intellectual movement that swept China in the mid- and late 1980s, and embarked on a cultural critique of the deep structure of the Chinese nation: “their (the Fifth Generation filmmakers’) frequent deployment of long takes, long shots, and deep focus, are anguished, self-reflexive, slow-paced, scathing critiques of entrenched patterns of traditional Chinese culture” (3). Zhang Yimou’s fourth film, Raise the Red Lantern, is the last of a trilogy ( Red Sorghum and Judou are earlier instalments) that is deeply critical of Confucianism and Chinese culture. Only when things are investigated is knowledge extended only when knowledge is extended are thoughts sincere only when thoughts are sincere are minds rectified only when minds are rectified are the characters of persons cultivated only when characters are cultivated are families regulated only when families are regulated are states well governed only when states are well governed is there peace in the world.Ĭonfucianism formed the basis of Chinese culture when the Han Emperor Wu, who ruled China from 140 to 87 B.C., instituted it as state ideology and orthodoxy (2). Source: Level Four Films Prod Co: Palace/Era/China Film Prod: Chiu Fu-sheng Dir: Zhang Yimou Scr: Ni Zhen, from the story by Su Tong Phot: Zhao Fei Ed: Du Yuan Art Dir: Cao Jiuping, Dong Huamiao Mus: Zhao Jiping, Naoki TachikawaĬast: Gong Li, He Saifei, Ma Jingwu, Cao Cuifeng, Zhou Qi, Kong Lin The Red Lanterns may appear to be villains, but to them, the Green Lanterns are the bad guys.Raise the Red Lantern/ Da Hong Denglong Gao Gao Gua (China 1991 125 mins) Most members have lost everything except their anger and Atrocitus used that feeling to give them back meaning to their lives. The Red Lanterns are beings who have been caught up in struggles they had no say in. Atrocitus is the survivor of a massacre committed by the Guardians of the Universe’s Manhunters while Bleez was a princess on her home world before she was assaulted by the Sinestro Corps. While they may desire vengeance upon Sinestro and the Green Lanterns, it’s actually understandable once their backgrounds are brought to light. Atrocitus' intentional selection of Sinestro victims isn't just ironic statement for his army, it's a reveal that re-contextualizes the most misunderstood Corps in the Emotional Spectrum.īecause of their appearance and bloodthirsty nature, many assume the Red Lanterns are villainous. After amassing the worst criminals from all across the universe, Sinestro and his underlings tore apart several sectors in their mission, leaving an untold number of victims in their wake. The Sinestro Corps War was Sinestro's attempt to replace the Green Lanterns for good with a Corps that utilized the Yellow Light of Fear.
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