Raise the Red Lantern (1991) starring Gong Li. When her father dies, teenager Songlian (Li) is forced to become the fourth wife (concubine) of a rich man. She soon becomes entangled in the politics of his house, where she must compete with three other wives for attention and privileges. Watching this movie is kind of like watching a Chinese soap opera, where the customs and rules must remain forever mysterious to a Westerner. That doesn't stop it, however, from being fascinating. The Second Mistress, the only one who acts friendly towards Songlian, turns out to be the one who stabs her in the back. The relationships among concubines, servants, Master and children are all played out beautifully. In Mandarin, with English subtitles. Grade: A
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