Following up on my last post, I decided this week to feature an actress who had a couple movies on my movie list and who was being featured on our DVD display in the IMC. So this week I decided to feature Gong Li in her breakout role in Raise the Red Lantern [IMC DVD 951 R159 2007]. I also watched two other movies she was in: Red Sorghum [ILL request] and Farewell My Concubine [IMC DVD 158.25 F222 1990?].
Gong Li is a Chinese actress who has been in many movies, most notably in America Memoirs of a Geisha. Rumors are that she is being cast in Disney’s upcoming live action movie Mulan. We decided to feature her on our display with the movie Raise the Red Lantern which, while it wasn’t her first movie, it helped her to gain attention as an actress. The film itself has stunning cinematography, and Gong Li does a wonderful job as the fourth mistress to a wealthy landowner. Throughout the movie she slowly realizes the politics of the family and takes action to try to assert herself. In the end, all actions have consequences and Li’s character loses herself in the process.
I also got to watch Red Sorghum, which was Gong Li’s first ever film. This movie follows the story of a woman who is sent to marry a man who is leprous but wealthy. On the way, one of the men escorting her falls in love with her and kills her husband so she won’t become sick as well. She becomes master of his estate, which produces a type of wine made from red sorghum, a local plant. Throughout the movie, she deals with various conflicts, but resolves them with dedication and graciousness. The first half of the movie is very much a comedic film, with some drama thrown in to further the plot line. The second half, however, features the Japanese invasion of China, and at this point the movie takes a much darker turn. Wonderful acting by Gong Li, and very impressive for her first ever film.
My last movie featuring Gong Li was Farewell My Concubine. She played a smaller role in this movie than the other two that I watched, but still shone as an actress. This movie follows two Chinese boys growing up together while learning how to act in Chinese operas. The viewer watches their relationship grow, and their continued friendship while acting together. However, when the one decides to marry a prostitute (Gong Li), their relationship suffers. This movie takes the viewer throughout many turbulent periods in China’s history, including the Japanese invasion, as well as the beginning of Communism which sought to destroy the idealist Chinese opera. I was very impressed by this film—by its breadth of so many different characters that seamlessly intertwined. The music played an integral part in this movie, with the same Chinese opera music playing throughout (Farewell My Concubine), but still managing to keep the viewer from being bored by showing new scenes from the opera.
This was a great opportunity to explore Gong Li as an actress. Next week we will be featuring Song and Dance movies on our DVD display, so come check it out! Don’t forget to keep following along on your own film travelogue at https://letterboxd.com/peterstanley/list/1001-movies-you-must-see-before-you-die/by/release/ .
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