Tag: wealthy suitor

Raise the Red Lantern
(大红灯笼高高挂)

Post author By Jeremy Clarke
Post date November 4 2026
No Comments on Raise the Red Lantern
(大红灯笼高高挂)

Director – Zhang Yimou – 1991 – China – Cert. 12a – 125m

****

After her father dies, a 19-year-old girl without means accepts an offer of marriage from a wealthy suitor, becoming his fourth wife – back out in UK cinemas on Friday, November 6th

Northern China, the 1920s. The father of 19-year-old Songlian (Gong Li) dies, leaving her without the means to pay for college. She therefore accepts an offer of marriage to the wealthy Chen (Ma Jingwu). He’s fifty, and she’s his fourth wife. The first wife, Yuru (Jin Suyuan), has lost the master’s interest having aged. The second, Zhuoyun (Cao Cuifeng), is a constant schemer. The third, Meishan (He Saifei), is a former Opera star.

Each bride has her own house within the compound. Whichever house the master wishes to stay at at night is marked by the hanging of lit, red lanterns in the courtyard outside. The wife of the house where the red lantern is raised enjoys other privileges such as being allowed to choose her own menu at meal times. In this small world of these four women, intrigues develop as they attempt to win from their rivals the master’s favour by whatever means they can think of, fair or foul.… Read the rest

Movies Features Live Action

Cyrano

Cyrano

Romantic self-doubt

Cyrano
Directed by Joe Wright
Certificate 12a, 124 minutes
Released 25 February

Edmond Rostand’s 1897 romantic play Cyrano de Bergerac concerns a man who, because of his long nose, considers himself too ugly to tell the girl of his dreams and childhood friend Roxanne that he loves her. This new version ditches the nose to cast Peter Dinklage (Game Of Thrones) as the hero whose dwarfism becomes his reason for thinking Roxanne (Haley Bennett) couldn’t possibly love him. Then she falls in love… with one of the men in the regiment he commands.

However… [Read more]

Full review published in Reform magazine.

Cyrano

Director – Joe Wright – 2021 – UK – Cert. 12a – 124m

*****

The short stature of Cyrano de Bergerac makes him believe that no woman could ever love him – not even his beloved friend Roxanne, who he can’t bring himself to tell – out in cinemas on Friday, February 25th

17th Century Italy. Witty and articulate Captain of the Guard Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) is never at a loss for words. His rapier wit defeats any opponent, as does his rapier proper should any be foolish enough to challenge him to a duel. Being short in stature, he can’t imagine that any normal sized woman could love him for who he is.

He is therefore unable to confess his love for her to the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett), the woman and lifelong childhood friend for whom he would do anything. So when she falls in love at first sight with Christian (Bashir Salahuddin), a new recruit to Cyrano’s regiment, Cyrano finds himself torn between her rejection and his desire for her to be happy with the man she loves. Unfortunately, this intelligent and free-spirited young woman enjoys nothing more than the literary cut and thrust which Cyrano is able to provide but the inarticulate and out of his depth Christian is not.… Read the rest