"Raise the Red Lantern" is a 1991 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yimou. It is set in 1920s China and follows the story of Songlian, a young woman who becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy man. The film explores themes of power, jealousy, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. The title refers to the tradition of raising a red lantern to signify the chosen wife for the night. As Songlian navigates her new life, she faces intense rivalry among the other wives, leading to dramatic consequences that highlight the oppressive nature of their circumstances.