Zhang Yimou still showed his mastery of color. The red color of the lantern was originally a symbol of hope, but under Zhang's lens, it became a symbol of the oppression of women in the feudal patriarchal society. The blackness of the cloth that seals the lights, the blackness of the buildings of the Chen family compound, oppresses the women in the compound, making them inhuman. White, Songlian's white cheongsam, white coat, and the pale snow on the roof set off Songlian's loneliness after falling out of favor. Lanterns and red lanterns are supposed to be decorations during festivals, used to render the festive atmosphere. But it became an object that the women in the compound competed for, and for this reason, they were intrigued and tried their best. And what makes the lantern sour is the patriarchy under the feudal ethics. When the lamp is lit, you can hammer your feet and order food. The powers women seek are nothing but alms from men in this compound, but women flock to them without dignity. Chen Zuoqian, the master of the fate of all women in this compound, did not show his face from beginning to end, maintaining a sense of mystery. In this way, the director makes the film criticize the feudal ethics behind Chen Zuoqian, and deeply criticizes the poisoning of women in the traditional patriarchal society. And a specific man is just a representative of the feudal patriarchal society behind him. In this world, there are not only Chen Zuoqian, but also Li Zuoqian and Zhang Zuoqian.
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