Plot points are linear links that make up the chain of traditional Aristotelian 3-act dramatic structure. This classic structure worked well in Hollywood for almost a century now. Although young movie makers are forcing the limits of this structure, plot points still rule the day as the tent poles that hold up of the circus of our dreams. Here are the plot points of Raise the Red Lantern (1991), as I see them.

Raise the Red Lantern (1991)

Starring: Gong Li, Cao Cuifen, He Caifei, Jin Shuyuan, Kong Lin, Ma Jingwu, Zhao Qi
Director: Zhang Yimou
Writers: Ni Zhen (Screenplay), Su Tong (Novel)

ESTABLISHING SHOT: 19 yr old Songlian, looking straight into the camera, agrees with her off-camera mother to be married against her will to a rich landowner.

INCITING INCIDENT: Songlian arrives in the walled compound of the rich landowner to be his Fourth Mistress.

PLOT POINT 1: Songlian realizes the Third Mistress will not give her a break and fight her nail and tooth for the attention of the Master while the Second Mistress could be a friend and an ally.

MID POINT EVENT: Songlian discovers in the room of her maid the voodoo doll used to put a curse on her. The maid admits that it was the Second Mistress who wrote Songlian's name on the doll.

PLOT POINT 2: The Third Mistress is murdered by the Master's servants "according to the rules" after the Second Mistress, acting on the information inadvertently blurted out by a drunk Songlian, catches the Third Mistress in bed with the house doctor who periodically visits the ladies.

3rd ACT RESOLUTION: Songlian goes mad, lighting the red lanterns in her apartment day and night while a young Fifth Mistress is ushered into the service of the Master.