Beginning of Essay
There are some movies about lifestyles in China and then there is “Raise the Red Lantern.” The film parallels “The Last Emperor” in how a master controls his subjects within his domain. Out of all the Chinese movies that I have extensivel ....

Middle of Essay
.... tense mood. The film revolves around the master’s polygamist lifestyle and his utter dominance over his wives. When one mistress was good to him, he would decide to sleep with her that night. At the beginning of the film you get the notion that the forth mistress doesn’t want to sleep with the master, but that changes as the film goes on. Sleeping with the master that night meant the lanterns outside your room were lit up and, an added incentive, was being able to get a foot massage that night. The massage seemed to be the most rewarding part of being at the estate. The master’s decision of who to sleep with that night evoke ....