Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou

     This movie was alright. It wasn't really the most likeable one, considering the different characters. Songlian seems to be the protagonist in the story, but her character is so complex that it makes you think otherwise once you reach the middle. In fact, I don't think the story has a clearly defined set of protagonists and antagonists(except for the Second Mistress, but even that can be debated upon). The movie shows what the Chinese culture is really like. It shows that not everyone can be happy. People have to make sacrifices for others. The ending was understandable considering all the problems that Songlian faced. I bet anyone with that amount of trauma would become crazy, too. As for the technical aspects of the movie, I found each of the scenes visually appealing. The lanterns brightened the mood for the scenes, and the intricate designs of the houses were fun to look at. The actors also played their roles very well and made every scene lively.