Message from dcho

[Anonymous]

I think this film has, on the surface, many things to say about women such as women's role as sex objects, limited opportunities, giving birth to sons and having to fight for power domestically against other women.

As I watched this film, I could not help but continue referring to similar stories in the biblical account in the story of Abraham and his two wives, Sarai and Hagar. Sarai was Jewish and Hagar was Egyptian. Sarai could not have a child so Abraham is allowed to have a child with the mistress Hagar who gives birth to Ishmael, the half Egyptian. Similarly, we have in Raise the Red Lantern Songlian (the fourth mistress) fighting mostly against (Cai Fei) the third mistress.

I think, in a way, films portraying women as martyrs or victims is not that new. Many religious and literary histories across cultures can vouch for that. I think what was unique about this film was that in the biblical story of Abraham, the reason for Abraham having sex was out of his wife being unable to have children. In that case we will justify Abraham's situation as POLYGYNY (or simply having many wives due usually to ensure the survival of species). But the reason why the master has four wives in Raise the Red Lantern is POLYGAMY (many sex partners). We know that because the master's first wife had a son. In that way, Raise the Red Lantern makes the female view of male and social norms as even more fractured and negative.

dave