After seeing “Hero” I wanted to see some of the other films by Zhang Yimou. In Raise the Red Lantern we see the very formalized story of a woman who is a concubine to a wealthy man and becomes his fourth mistress. As we see the world revealed through her eyes it becomes more and more complex as it moves to an inevitable conclusion. Stunningly beautiful to look at, the film moves at a deliberate and precise pace with complex rhythms and interactions between characters who all seem to be trapped within rules and roles. A fascinating and entertaining film.