Red Lantern, rent it

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Learning sooooooooo much about Chinese and Taiwanese films was almost overwhelming, but one thing I took away from it, was an interest in watching Red Lantern asap.
My AP Language students are almost done with Scarlett Letter, and the idea of a Chinese adultress and all the drama and intrigue, etc. made me want to see the entire flick.
Well, I got it from netflix this weekend and previewed it. GREAT movie.
Rent it.
The bummer is that I can't figure out how to show a clip that will make any sense to my students at this point, and with AP, I just don't have time to take a class period or more to show it.
Stan..........you mentioned the lunch movie time idea. I will do that this week. Thanks for the idea.
see you Tuesday.

[Anonymous]

Yep, Lois, I agree, the Red Lantern is a winner. Perhaps we could discuss ways in which you could incorporate a clip. I have been thinking about how to use it in world history!

[Anonymous]

I watched it when it first came out and have forgotten about it. I know that there were many cultural clues in the movie that I just didnt understand then and some even now (i'm sure). But I do think that because of this course I should watch it again. I am curious as to how to use it in class and I'm eager to see if others have ideas. What was the lunch time idea? How long is your lunch time?[Edit by="dtorres on Jan 7, 10:40:36 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

so i have thought longer about this beautiful movie, it is truly beautifully made, but decided that red lantern pairs better with the 12th grade novel, the awakening, instead of scarlet letter. so i am thinking of viewing some other movies to develop my plan.
we have some upcoming screenings at sc later in january, right?
maybe pete carroll will be gone by then.

[Anonymous]

I was so surprised to realize what I have probably known many times before, and that is that chinese movies really sizzle. In many ways their drama is more vibrant than our western movies, and true feelings are really portrayed much more vividly then we do in our western cultures. The Red Lantern is really a shocker, because you think how much Chinese Women are controlled that something like this would not occur, but human nature is what it is, and I guess adultry can happen anywhere. It seems like the character was really driven by some internal motivation, and I don't really know if it was just for sex or not. Maybe I will never know.

[Anonymous]

Lois, I agree! I just watched that movie about a month ago on Netflix. I was amazed to see the total control men had over women--maybe I shouldn't be surprised. It was sad to see the main character transform from someone proud of what little college education she had, to vying for attention with the other wives, to going completely nuts!

I wish I knew more about the average, modern Chinese woman. That would be really interesting.

[Anonymous]

This is a great film. Gong Li does a superb job playing the heroine of the story and often plays the main female leads in other Chinese films. I am often saddened by stories like this where strong female character disintegrate from strong, principled individuals to another drone in society--helplessly shaped by the societal structure where their human commodity is based on their connection to a male patronage. It helps me to have a deeper appreciation for what my mom and both of my grandmothers went through to give me the opportunities that I have today where making a choice about anything is a real luxury.

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