In the 1991 masterpiece Raise the Red Lantern, Gong Li delivers what is widely considered one of the greatest performances in world cinema. Playing the lead character, Songlian, she portrays a 19-year-old educated woman forced to become the “Fourth Mistress” (concubine) of a wealthy merchant in 1920s China.
Gong Li’s performance is noted for its “haunting” quality, tracing Songlian’s shift from a defiant, self-possessed young woman into a victim broken by a rigid patriarchal system. Her character initially believes she can navigate the system with her education and pride. However, she becomes trapped in a “deadly snake pit” of competition with the other three wives for their husband's favor—symbolized by the lighting of the red lanterns and the privilege of a foot massage.
Gong Li represents a “tragic victim” who unintentionally becomes an executioner for other innocent victims within the house, eventually descending into madness as the cruelty of the household rituals takes its toll.
The film uses “penetrating close-ups” of Gong Li to convey her emotional isolation and internal struggle. This was the second major collaboration between Gong Li and director Zhang Yimou, following Red Sorghum, and it remains one of their most critically acclaimed works.
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