Raise the Red Lantern Commentary

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Raise the Red Lantern raises issues of the traditional patriarchal in China in the1920s, that were present in both the film and novel. There were several additional scenes in the film which was not present in the novel, that aided and elaborated on the themes of isolation and tradition that is present in the novel. From 1:55:00s to 1:59:00s there is the revelation of Songlian traumatised state and Lao Ye’s unfeeling declaration that Songlian is mad, and there is the additional scenes of the supposed ghost of Meishan, the third mistress, as well. The film expands on ideas and themes within the novel making additional scenes to interpret and elaborate on certain themes. The trauma of Lotus is kept in the both the film and novel which allows people to sympathise with her more especially after witnessing the death of Cora although they are expressed differently. In both versions, Lotus is traumatised by Coral’s death through her repetitions of “Murder” as a reply to what she had seen. The fragility of her state is more apparent in the novel than in the film, where she is “frantically tearing her hair out” and “wailed distractedly” even at the entrance of Chen Zuoqian. In which, this fragility that is used for readers to sympethise with the character is changed into calm horror in the film. Whereas the film continues to emphasize the structure of the hierarchy through the wide angle shot, which includes the same repeated architecture of Lotus’ room that have been shown throughout the film, instead of terror and horror on Lotus’ face after her witness of Coral’s end. The long shot takes not of not only the hierarchy through the architecture, but also the reminder that Lotus is not as highly regarded as before with her covered lanterns. The environment seems to have not sympathy for Lotus as if the structure and tradition no matter the situation still holds precedence

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