The Red Lantern

In the China of the 1920s, the young student Songlian becomes the fourth wife of the rich Mr. Chen. With a pretended pregnancy, Songlian can win her husband's favor. But their fall is deep. - "The Red Lantern" won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1991 and was nominated for the Oscar in the same year.

The beautiful Gong Li in a womanendrama of her former husband Zhang Yimou

China in the twenties: Songlian, after her father's death, marries the wealthy Mr. Chen at the urging of her stepmother and moves into his magnificent estate as his fourth wife. Chen is a powerful clan chief in northern China and reigns unrestrainedly about his clan. His first wife gave him a son, the second woman is a clever intriguer, and the third woman secretly has a relationship with the family doctor. The four women occupy a separate house and have their own servants. Every evening, Mr. Chen subjects his women to a strict ritual. They have to stand before their houses, then it is announced in which woman the Lord spends the night. As a symbol of his favor, red lanterns in the courtyard and in the apartments of the favorite. Songlian soon understands how she can gain an advantage over the other women. She pretends to be pregnant. So she can tie Chen closer to him for a while. All the worse, however, is their defeat, when the illusion flies.

Cast and crew

Actors: