Raise the Red Lantern
China in the 1920's. After her father's death, nineteen year old Songlian is forced to marry Chen Zuoqian, the lord of a powerful family. Fifty year old Chen has already three wives, each of them living in separate houses within the great castle. The competition between the wives is tough, as their master's attention carries power, status and privilege. Each night Chen must decide with which wife to spend the night and a red lantern is lit in front of the house of his choice. And each wife schemes and plots to make sure it's hers. However, things get out of hand...
Despite its modest budget of $1.0M, Raise the Red Lantern became a box office phenomenon, earning $16.6M worldwide—a remarkable 1560% return. The film's bold vision engaged audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Raise the Red Lantern (1991) showcases meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Zhang Yimou's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 5 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Songlian, a university student, is informed by her stepmother that she must become the fourth wife of the wealthy Master Chen. Her educated, independent life is ending.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Songlian experiences her first night with the master and the red lanterns are lit in her courtyard. She realizes the dehumanizing nature of competing for the master's attention and the loss of her autonomy.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Songlian chooses to actively compete in the household politics. She fakes pregnancy to gain favor and manipulation becomes her strategy, crossing from passive resistance into active participation in the oppressive system., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Yan'er dies after being brutally punished for her transgression, and Meishan is executed by hanging in the "death room" after Songlian drunkenly reveals the affair. Songlian witnesses the murders—literal death pervades as the system destroys everyone who challenges it., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Songlian's mind breaks. She realizes there is no escape, no winning, no synthesis possible. Unlike a traditional breakthrough, this is a psychological collapse into madness—her only refuge from unbearable guilt and entrapment., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Raise the Red Lantern's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Raise the Red Lantern against these established plot points, we can identify how Zhang Yimou utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Raise the Red Lantern within the drama genre.
Zhang Yimou's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Zhang Yimou films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Raise the Red Lantern takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Zhang Yimou filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Zhang Yimou analyses, see The Great Wall, Coming Home and Cliff Walkers.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Songlian, a university student, is informed by her stepmother that she must become the fourth wife of the wealthy Master Chen. Her educated, independent life is ending.
Theme
The servant Yan'er explains the household rules: "The master decides whose room the red lanterns are lit in each night. Whoever he chooses receives massage, privileges, and power for that day."
Worldbuilding
Songlian arrives at the Chen compound and learns the oppressive hierarchy among the four wives. She meets the first wife (elderly), second wife Zhuoyun (kind but marginalized), third wife Meishan (former opera singer, manipulative), and the servant system that governs their lives.
Disruption
Songlian experiences her first night with the master and the red lanterns are lit in her courtyard. She realizes the dehumanizing nature of competing for the master's attention and the loss of her autonomy.
Resistance
Songlian resists the system, befriends the second wife Zhuoyun who warns her about Meishan's scheming. She learns the rules of survival: fake illness to gain attention, flatter the master, and outmaneuver the other wives. She debates whether to play the game or maintain dignity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Songlian chooses to actively compete in the household politics. She fakes pregnancy to gain favor and manipulation becomes her strategy, crossing from passive resistance into active participation in the oppressive system.
Mirror World
Songlian's relationship with her servant Yan'er deepens and becomes complicated. Yan'er represents Songlian's possible future—completely absorbed by the system, worshipping the master, with no identity beyond servitude.
Premise
The power games escalate through the seasons. Songlian manipulates to get the lanterns lit, battles with Meishan for dominance, experiences small victories and defeats. The rituals of foot massage, lantern lighting, and seasonal ceremonies reveal the gilded cage's seductive routine.
Opposition
Songlian's fake pregnancy is exposed, destroying her credibility. Meishan retaliates ruthlessly. Yan'er's obsession with the master is revealed—she has red lanterns hidden in her room. The master's absolute power becomes undeniable as every attempt at autonomy is crushed.
Collapse
Yan'er dies after being brutally punished for her transgression, and Meishan is executed by hanging in the "death room" after Songlian drunkenly reveals the affair. Songlian witnesses the murders—literal death pervades as the system destroys everyone who challenges it.
Crisis
Devastated by guilt and horror at Meishan's death, which she caused, Songlian falls into psychological darkness. She confronts the reality that she has become complicit in the system she despised, responsible for another woman's murder.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Songlian's mind breaks. She realizes there is no escape, no winning, no synthesis possible. Unlike a traditional breakthrough, this is a psychological collapse into madness—her only refuge from unbearable guilt and entrapment.
Synthesis
The household continues without pause. A new fifth wife arrives. The cycles of oppression perpetuate. Songlian wanders the compound as a ghost of her former self, neither dead nor alive, trapped forever in the system that consumed her.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: a young woman arrives at the compound. But now we see it through Songlian's mad eyes as she wanders the courtyard in summer, completely broken. The educated, defiant girl has been utterly destroyed by patriarchal oppression.