Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
Zhang Yimou is by far my favorite Chinese director. Even though he seems to be losing steam since Hero (2002) IMHO, he has never lost his eye for creating beautiful shots, be it with modest budgets ( Ju Dou -- 1990) or huge ones ( Curse of the Golden Flower -- 2006). Raise the Red Lantern , however, stands tall as his (and Zhao Fei 's, its cinematographer) crowning achievement. I don't remember ever having watched a movie so visually stunning and yet so devastatingly sad. Raise the Red Lantern chronicles a year in the life of Songlian ( Gong Li ), who, at the age of 19, was compelled into marrying a rich man. Her new world is, thus, comprised of the labyrinthine estate she shares with her husband and his three other wives, each one with a house of his/her own. Every day, the Master chooses one of his wives to spend the night with, and the chosen mistress has red lanterns lit in front of her house, gets a foot massage and has the privilege of selecting the follo...