Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou. I love this film... Not only does it have fabulous frocks, Chinese history (I'm a bit facinated with that) and gorgeous cinematography, but all these elements combine really powerfully to create a huge emotional impact. Huge WOW factor. (You can see here why my career as film reviewer never took off... Frocks first, character-driven narrative barely hinted at...). I've only seen the film once - in the Duke of York cinema in Brighton (UK) ... so it must have been in the early nineties. It has remained with me since then. I also love other films by Zhang Yimou - Red Sorghum and To Live are particular faves. In fact - the story of To Live has probably had a more profound impact on the way that I view life than anything else I've seen or read. A couple just trying to live their everyday lives through the extraordinary upheaval of 20th century China - from Imperial times to late-20th century.
But really - I like anything with good costumes....
Aussie films - Careful he Might Hear You, Gallipoli, Strictly Ballroom, My Brilliant Career, The Castle and The Dish.... all for different reasons.
Thanks to Three Buttons for the This Is meme, and to Hokey for the theme.
4 comments:
You just can't go past a great aussie film...that last scene in Gallipoli still haunts me.
I saw To Live at the Cinema in the late 90s. I think it was the one where the doctor eats all the buns, but because he drunk water they went 7 times bigger, so because he ate 7 it was like he ate 49. I remember crying and laughing. If it wasn't that film it was another one like it. I think this is my favourite Zhang Yimou film as well.
I haven't seen that one. I'll have to hunt it down when I get back. I agree with all your Aussie choices, you've got a good list there.
I simply adore Raise the Red Lantern, I have seen it a few times and love it even more every time I see it.
Post a Comment