Which Asian director do you think is the best at creating powerful visuals and why? From Japanese legends like Kurosawa and Ozu to contemporary South Korean masters like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, and the unique visual style of Hong Kong’s Wong Kar-wai, Asian cinema is filled with directors whose storytelling has shaped film history. Who stands out to you and why?
Was my reply deleted automatically because I shared my review link? Lol Anyways I think Shohei Imamaru is one of the greatest film makers from Asia definitely.
@@hsynsrky Probably, TH-cam does that with links sometimes. Hmm, I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't familiar with him, but he seems very interesting, so I will check him out.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Profound Desires of the Gods is my favorite. You should definitely check it first. His most popular 4 films on Letterboxd are all good actually. Glad I added him to another film lover fella's radar. Great videos man keep it up!
@@KryCaNe For sure! might be my 2nd fave. Their trilogy of Gong li "being sold as a wife" (Red Sorghum, Ji Dou and raise the red lantern), are the best ones. 'To live' is fantastic as well.
Mr Zhang really stands out to me for all his work. I really love The Curse of the Golden Flower. I think Ang Lee is great as well. I like Jun'ichi Mori from Japan with the Little Forrest Series. Recently, I was blown away by the cinematography for "My Journey to You." It is a C-drama series by iQIYI. They really did well.
I saw this movie when I was a teenager staying up late one night and I have been obsessed with this movie for ages. It's audible and visually stunning.
Great video essay! However I don't remember it was being banned, at least not in my region. It was highly celebrated and honoured work from Zhang Yimou and famous throughout China. That being said during that time (1990s, when I was in secondary school) the films were not classified, all age groups were allowed in the cinema. It was controversial for sure but still quite a common theme among the top directors of that generation. In my opinion being banned because of critic of government is a little far-fetched (of course not impossible but I think other reasons far more convincing).
i really enjoyed this and also the cadence of speech thank u!!! the editing is so soothing and highlights the film while making your points :D subscribed
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Especially since you point out two things I'm putting a lot of thought into, so it’s great to hear it resonated with you.
This film is my favorite of all time. I truly appreciate this new perspective and all the detail you've supplied. I have seen RTRL so many times I can remember almost all the little sounds you describe. After watching this video, I will be re-watching this film. It's like a craving. When someone makes me start thinking about it, I gotta watch it again. Like chocolate or ice cream. Yum.
The Gables Cinema Society had this on their bi-weekly recommendations recently and I picked it up out of curiosity. This is one of the most masterful films I’ve ever seen
I watched this film about three months back. It was fantastic imo. I believe i also viewed Curse of the Golden Flower and House of Flying Daggers that week. I highly recommend them all.
I agree. Loved this film. This is the first movies I worked and arranged to go see in a movie theatres. In a place they only showed it twice a week for less than a move. (Was not allowed per my religion to go to theatres and I was like 19… what a first experience in cinema. Gorgeous. Orlando with Tilda Swinton then Farinelli where the next ones. So for this I will no longer complaint about my past.
I don't think she is faking at the end, because of the film's symbolism, songlian is eventually doomed in the house. No matter what happens she will be prisoner for life. It is also resonating with the reality, if you look back in history or even nowadays, women are still "going crazy" in places, like the chained mother of eight that happened not too long ago. To have her faking it would defeat the purpose of the film. (Hell even my grand-aunt was one of them, going crazy and went missing forever)
You're probably right, that was a sidetrack I was thinking about, to see if it can be interpreted in other ways, but it's most likely as it's presented.
There is Netflix film called HUNGER by Thai director Sitisiri Monkolsiri. I absolutely loved it on all levels, but the sound worked so well to build tension. One other film called DRIVE by Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn (starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan). Unfortunately it works best in the theatre. It is a rare film I watched twice in the theatre - great music and sound.
Oh yes, Drive was a big hit back then, I was listening to its soundtrack for quite a while. I never heard of Hunger, but I have to check it out, thanks for the suggestion.
I've always been interested in asian cinema as a whole especially Chinese and Japanese they're fantastic, and Zhang yimou and gong li are masterful artists don't know how it didn't win the oscar and lost for another italy film that wasn't really good or how didn't gong li nominated for an oscar this was great acting and loved her more when i watched her in farewell, my concubine and Ju dou and many films
wow mate. amazing analyse. it includes architecture history sound.. this video gave me huge inspiration about my work and hobbies. keep up these amazing works
This movie will haunt me forever. What a great essay though! By the way, I couldn't place your accent at first, but when you said "Peking", it suddenly clicked. Told my wife and she remarked that she did notice similarities in your accent and mine.
When so many times in china, the red lanterns symbolize ghosts and a sense of fear.that is because chinese ghost story are base on unfortunate newlywed woman,their clothes are red and the wedding house is red,from another point of view red is meaning afraid.
There’s some debate about whether Raise the Red Lantern was fully banned or only temporarily restricted in certain areas after its release. Although the story is set in a period before the PRC was established, Zhang Yimou's films from the late '80s and early '90s often faced heavy scrutiny by the government. Up until To Live (1994), many of his films were banned due to their politically sensitive themes, such as Ju Dou, which came out before Raise the Red Lantern. In my research, several sources indicate Raise the Red Lantern faced similar issues, though this may not be entirely accurate. Some other sources, like the New York Times article A Chinese Master by Lynn Pan (March 1, 1992), Encyclopedia Britannica's page on Gong Li (fact-checked by the editors), Empire Magazine's Review by David Parkinson (Jan 1, 2000), The Hudson Review's Homeward Bound by Bert Cardullo (Vol. 55, No. 1, Spring 2002), and Haijing Tu's essay A Chinese Director and His Transition from Critical Banned Filmmaker to Box Office Success, also discuss Raise the Red Lantern in this context.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 I haven’t found any valid sources online indicating that Raise the Red Lantern was banned. The film’s narrative of criticizing the oppression of women in the old society aligns with the political correctness of any period under communist governance. The only film directed by Zhang Yimou that has been banned is To Live, which was prohibited because it was submitted to film festivals without prior approval by China’s National Radio and Television Administration and allegedly touches on sensitive topics like the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yimou, after having produced some of the most ground-breaking and authentic films with a small budget, subsequently sold his souls to not just to the lure of big budget and over-the-top CGI, but ultimately even kowtowed to the Chinese Communist Party and became its pawn and part of its well-polished propaganda machine. Not surprising that his artistic creativity quickly plummeted after that and came to a complete standstill once he started doing that. He's since then produced nothing but spectacular clichéd and big budget garbage completely devoid of artistic value and creativity, but relying exclusively on expensive actors, costumes, and props. It's such a real shame, and real waste as well.
The retrospective, that he makes prop films now, after having made quite a critical yet nuanced film like To Live, always makes for interesting analysis
Utterly smoothbrained take. Many of his big budget films were phenomenal in their own regard, like Hero or House of Flying Daggers. Probably the worst things he's ever directed were films involving white people, like that trashy monster great wall film.
I had only heard of Raise the Red Lantern until now, but that will have to change after seeing your wonderful analysis of it. Each shot seems like a perfect story board. Have you seen any films of Lee Chang-dong? I have only seen 4 of his films, but I really loved the use of sound in Parasite. One of my favourite aspects of Squid Games was also the use of sound.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy the film, it's beautiful. Yes, I saw Burning and Secret Sunshine, but his other films are also on my watchlist for a long time. He is very unique and poetic, and I love South Korean cinema, so I'll definitely watch more of his.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Thank you. I wish I could see it in a cinema. I met Lee Chang-dong years ago at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). I am very fortunate my hometown hosts such a wonderful festival. He was promoting his film Poetry. It is a beautiful film where the lead is slowly declining as she realizes she has dementia. Do you ever look back on films that you feel foreshadowed parts of your life? My Dad has dementia and I think back about that film because it is told through the perspective of the patient (not their family). Moments like this I think art can speak much more truth than any medical document.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Lee Chang-dong has complained of being so fed up with the Korean government and getting funding to the point he has almost quit filmmaking. Despite this he has soldiered on. His long takes make me forget I am watching a film rather than just observing life. I feel so grateful I live in a world where artful films like his can still be made.
@@skatingcanuck9837 Being able to visit TIFF must be amazing! Poetry, Oasis, and Peppermint Candy have been on my list for a long time, his films are really profound and heavy so they definitely need the right mindset to be able to truly enjoy it. I'm sorry to hear about your Father's dementia, I have some films that really resonate with me because of real life experiences, so I agree 100% that art speaks to the soul and means much more than entertainment. If you haven't seen it yet I recommend Yi Yi by Edward Yang, it's one of, if not my favorite films and it speaks about the human condition and our life beautifully through characters from different generations.
"however i would argue that the meaning of the red lantern constantly changes." - oh! ok... well, then i guess that means it's just kinda meaningless. these kinds of essays are so frustrating because they keep trying to pretentiously ascribe meaning to the meaningless. either the lanterns represent some THING, some THEME, or they don't. if what they represent "changes all the time" then they have no meaning.
I meant that the red lanterns change their meaning within the film. And not only do the viewer see them differently as the film goes on, but even the characters relate to it differently. This doesn't mean that they can be anything so they are meaningless, to me it's more about how our perspective changes on certain things as the plot moves forward. Also, yes, in the end, as I explain they can actually be seen as something that is meaningless or serve no purpose, for Songlian at that point it is possibly meaningless, she is no longer oppressed by it, no longer strives for it, which is why she becomes 'free'. Even in real life, a flag or a religious symbol is only meaningful to certain people. We can say the red lanterns are simply the symbol of oppression, but for Meishan and Zhuoyun it obviously means something else, just as in Chinese culture originally they are about family, wealth, and prosperity, which is also mentioned in the film by the master. So it might seem pretentious to analyze the evolving nature of a simple symbol in a story, but in this film, the red lantern is the most important object, which is seen throughout the picture and is in the title as well.
An object’s symbolism can change throughout a story. The change would also reflect the character’s change. Take Peter Pan for example, Neverland meant something different in the beginning of the movie than what it was at the end of the movie. In the beginning of the movie, it represented escapism to Wendy and her brothers, but towards the end it represented the consequences of refusing to grow up. It helped us to see how the development the characters had throughout the story.
Which Asian director do you think is the best at creating powerful visuals and why?
From Japanese legends like Kurosawa and Ozu to contemporary South Korean masters like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho, and the unique visual style of Hong Kong’s Wong Kar-wai, Asian cinema is filled with directors whose storytelling has shaped film history. Who stands out to you and why?
Was my reply deleted automatically because I shared my review link? Lol Anyways I think Shohei Imamaru is one of the greatest film makers from Asia definitely.
@@hsynsrky Probably, TH-cam does that with links sometimes. Hmm, I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't familiar with him, but he seems very interesting, so I will check him out.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Profound Desires of the Gods is my favorite. You should definitely check it first. His most popular 4 films on Letterboxd are all good actually. Glad I added him to another film lover fella's radar. Great videos man keep it up!
@@hsynsrky Thanks for the recommendations, I always love to explore new directors!
Hirokazu Koreeda has some great feature films , I really like his earlier work, Nowbody knows (2004) is one of my favourites.
If they own your body, become a ghost. If they own your mind, lose it. Wow what a great line
Raise the red lantern is one of my favorite films! Most of Zhang Yimou and Gong Li's films together are masterpieces or damn close to it.
Red Sorghum is great as well.
@@KryCaNe For sure! might be my 2nd fave. Their trilogy of Gong li "being sold as a wife" (Red Sorghum, Ji Dou and raise the red lantern), are the best ones. 'To live' is fantastic as well.
Such a great video essay my friend, so interesting and enriching, hugs!
Thank you! It means a lot.
Agree!!
Saw this film decades ago, it was thrilling to revisit it through your analysis. Thank you
That was one of the best movie analyses I've ever seen/heard. Thank you bruv.
I have seen this movie a lot, and I really enjoyed it. I appreciate your thoughtful, in-depth analysis of sound.
Mr Zhang really stands out to me for all his work. I really love The Curse of the Golden Flower. I think Ang Lee is great as well. I like Jun'ichi Mori from Japan with the Little Forrest Series. Recently, I was blown away by the cinematography for "My Journey to You." It is a C-drama series by iQIYI. They really did well.
I saw this movie when I was a teenager staying up late one night and I have been obsessed with this movie for ages.
It's audible and visually stunning.
Great video essay! However I don't remember it was being banned, at least not in my region. It was highly celebrated and honoured work from Zhang Yimou and famous throughout China. That being said during that time (1990s, when I was in secondary school) the films were not classified, all age groups were allowed in the cinema. It was controversial for sure but still quite a common theme among the top directors of that generation. In my opinion being banned because of critic of government is a little far-fetched (of course not impossible but I think other reasons far more convincing).
i really enjoyed this and also the cadence of speech thank u!!! the editing is so soothing and highlights the film while making your points :D subscribed
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Especially since you point out two things I'm putting a lot of thought into, so it’s great to hear it resonated with you.
your work as a video essayist is spectacular
Thank you, I appreciate it a lot.
Wow. Excellent film analysis. I'm familiar with Zhang Yimou's work but I haven't seen this film. I'm looking forward to watching now!
This film is my favorite of all time. I truly appreciate this new perspective and all the detail you've supplied. I have seen RTRL so many times I can remember almost all the little sounds you describe. After watching this video, I will be re-watching this film. It's like a craving. When someone makes me start thinking about it, I gotta watch it again. Like chocolate or ice cream. Yum.
this is beautifully explained, narrated and edited. thank you for uploading this. new subscriber here
Damn, I need a day to recover from it and then permanently scar myself by watching this movie. Great video though.
Brilliantly and eloquently narrated. Thank you.
The Gables Cinema Society had this on their bi-weekly recommendations recently and I picked it up out of curiosity. This is one of the most masterful films I’ve ever seen
Raise the Red Lantern is a brilliant film.
Dude this is fucking amazing
Thank you!
Fantastic essay! Truly frightening
Thank you! I hope you don't mind, but I saw your profile and I have to say I love your artwork.
I watched this film about three months back. It was fantastic imo. I believe i also viewed Curse of the Golden Flower and House of Flying Daggers that week. I highly recommend them all.
This video is amazing. Love your analysis!
I agree. Loved this film. This is the first movies I worked and arranged to go see in a movie theatres. In a place they only showed it twice a week for less than a move. (Was not allowed per my religion to go to theatres and I was like 19… what a first experience in cinema. Gorgeous. Orlando with Tilda Swinton then Farinelli where the next ones. So for this I will no longer complaint about my past.
the movie came out when i was too young to understand, thanks for the disection.
Amazing insight. Just fascinating to watch
Thank you, I"m glad you liked it!
I enjoy ur voice a lot with those sounds in the film
An exquisite and insightful video essay. Nice job!
Great vodeo essay, will def watch this in my free time
Your videos are so intriguing. Thank you for these
Thank you, I'm glad you like them!
love your analysis. 😍
I loved your take on the movie :) Keep going.
I don't think she is faking at the end, because of the film's symbolism, songlian is eventually doomed in the house. No matter what happens she will be prisoner for life. It is also resonating with the reality, if you look back in history or even nowadays, women are still "going crazy" in places, like the chained mother of eight that happened not too long ago. To have her faking it would defeat the purpose of the film. (Hell even my grand-aunt was one of them, going crazy and went missing forever)
You're probably right, that was a sidetrack I was thinking about, to see if it can be interpreted in other ways, but it's most likely as it's presented.
Couldn’t agree more! Great page
There is Netflix film called HUNGER by Thai director Sitisiri Monkolsiri. I absolutely loved it on all levels, but the sound worked so well to build tension. One other film called DRIVE by Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn (starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan). Unfortunately it works best in the theatre. It is a rare film I watched twice in the theatre - great music and sound.
Oh yes, Drive was a big hit back then, I was listening to its soundtrack for quite a while. I never heard of Hunger, but I have to check it out, thanks for the suggestion.
I've always been interested in asian cinema as a whole especially Chinese and Japanese they're fantastic, and Zhang yimou and gong li are masterful artists don't know how it didn't win the oscar and lost for another italy film that wasn't really good or how didn't gong li nominated for an oscar this was great acting and loved her more when i watched her in farewell, my concubine and Ju dou and many films
居然能在油管看到大红灯笼高高挂的分析！！好棒！！
great essay!
thank you for your work.
wow mate.
amazing analyse. it includes architecture history sound..
this video gave me huge inspiration about my work and hobbies.
keep up these amazing works
WHAT A GREAT VIDEO
holy crap that was scary, i gotta go see it myself now
Thanks!
Wow, thank you, very generous of you!
Clicked in because it's my favourite film!
Getting similar Wes Andersen vibes when it comes to sound and sets directing the camera cuts. Awesome video!
This is an absolutely amazing movie
Underrated video
I did watched the movie, such beautiful cinematic n story
reminds me of every frame a painting instant sub..
Thank you very much!
Great stuff!
This movie is a masterpiece.
This movie will haunt me forever. What a great essay though!
By the way, I couldn't place your accent at first, but when you said "Peking", it suddenly clicked. Told my wife and she remarked that she did notice similarities in your accent and mine.
@@RixRaw Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! I'm Hungarian so that's where the accent is coming from.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Yeah, I'm also Hungarian, just didn't want to state it outright, because I wasn't sure if you were comfortable sharing that.
@@RixRaw Sure, I don't mind sharing that but thanks for being considerate :)
Advanced LivePortrait is very useful tool
reminds me of the book 'the red tent'
will watch
I thought you wrote when a dictator understand Sound lol
And I thought you wrote when a director understands sound, so I was very confused xD
No, Trump was not involved.
14:49 mistranslation here, it’s good-“toward each other” not good-“looking”, so the one who she’s having an affair with, bluntly
Thank you for the correction!
When so many times in china, the red lanterns symbolize ghosts and a sense of fear.that is because chinese ghost story are base on unfortunate newlywed woman,their clothes are red and the wedding house is red,from another point of view red is meaning afraid.
thank u.
Thanks for the cool video. What is the name of the song playing in the background? Thank you.
There are a couple, but the most prominent that goes on for the longest: Annie Zhou - Hesitation
great video but way too many ads
The names
Did you get a remastered print of the movie for this video?
Interesting analysis. I wish the speech of the commentator could be more articulate.
George Lucas said 50% of a movie is sound…
I loved that the camera barely shows the husband because hes irrelevant as a person he is a currency hahaha.
Do your research properly-the film has never been banned in China. It’s set in a time before the PRC was founded. What are you talking about, bro?
There’s some debate about whether Raise the Red Lantern was fully banned or only temporarily restricted in certain areas after its release. Although the story is set in a period before the PRC was established, Zhang Yimou's films from the late '80s and early '90s often faced heavy scrutiny by the government. Up until To Live (1994), many of his films were banned due to their politically sensitive themes, such as Ju Dou, which came out before Raise the Red Lantern. In my research, several sources indicate Raise the Red Lantern faced similar issues, though this may not be entirely accurate. Some other sources, like the New York Times article A Chinese Master by Lynn Pan (March 1, 1992), Encyclopedia Britannica's page on Gong Li (fact-checked by the editors), Empire Magazine's Review by David Parkinson (Jan 1, 2000), The Hudson Review's Homeward Bound by Bert Cardullo (Vol. 55, No. 1, Spring 2002), and Haijing Tu's essay A Chinese Director and His Transition from Critical Banned Filmmaker to Box Office Success, also discuss Raise the Red Lantern in this context.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 I haven’t found any valid sources online indicating that Raise the Red Lantern was banned. The film’s narrative of criticizing the oppression of women in the old society aligns with the political correctness of any period under communist governance. The only film directed by Zhang Yimou that has been banned is To Live, which was prohibited because it was submitted to film festivals without prior approval by China’s National Radio and Television Administration and allegedly touches on sensitive topics like the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yimou, after having produced some of the most ground-breaking and authentic films with a small budget, subsequently sold his souls to not just to the lure of big budget and over-the-top CGI, but ultimately even kowtowed to the Chinese Communist Party and became its pawn and part of its well-polished propaganda machine. Not surprising that his artistic creativity quickly plummeted after that and came to a complete standstill once he started doing that. He's since then produced nothing but spectacular clichéd and big budget garbage completely devoid of artistic value and creativity, but relying exclusively on expensive actors, costumes, and props. It's such a real shame, and real waste as well.
The retrospective, that he makes prop films now, after having made quite a critical yet nuanced film like To Live, always makes for interesting analysis
Utterly smoothbrained take.
Many of his big budget films were phenomenal in their own regard, like Hero or House of Flying Daggers.
Probably the worst things he's ever directed were films involving white people, like that trashy monster great wall film.
Funny, it's art when Katheryn Bigelow makes it, but propaganda when Zhang Yimou makes it? Also "Chinese Communist Party" is a misnomer
n what movies have you've made?
have even written a book or read one for that matter?
😢😮
@@user-ge3xu4fv7m Hero is basically fascist propaganda, but sure…
Sound separates good directors from great.
Bro if you do that again and again that called an OCD
I had only heard of Raise the Red Lantern until now, but that will have to change after seeing your wonderful analysis of it. Each shot seems like a perfect story board. Have you seen any films of Lee Chang-dong? I have only seen 4 of his films, but I really loved the use of sound in Parasite. One of my favourite aspects of Squid Games was also the use of sound.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy the film, it's beautiful. Yes, I saw Burning and Secret Sunshine, but his other films are also on my watchlist for a long time. He is very unique and poetic, and I love South Korean cinema, so I'll definitely watch more of his.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Thank you. I wish I could see it in a cinema. I met Lee Chang-dong years ago at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). I am very fortunate my hometown hosts such a wonderful festival. He was promoting his film Poetry. It is a beautiful film where the lead is slowly declining as she realizes she has dementia. Do you ever look back on films that you feel foreshadowed parts of your life? My Dad has dementia and I think back about that film because it is told through the perspective of the patient (not their family). Moments like this I think art can speak much more truth than any medical document.
@@JustOneMoreThing223 Lee Chang-dong has complained of being so fed up with the Korean government and getting funding to the point he has almost quit filmmaking. Despite this he has soldiered on. His long takes make me forget I am watching a film rather than just observing life. I feel so grateful I live in a world where artful films like his can still be made.
@@skatingcanuck9837 Being able to visit TIFF must be amazing! Poetry, Oasis, and Peppermint Candy have been on my list for a long time, his films are really profound and heavy so they definitely need the right mindset to be able to truly enjoy it. I'm sorry to hear about your Father's dementia, I have some films that really resonate with me because of real life experiences, so I agree 100% that art speaks to the soul and means much more than entertainment. If you haven't seen it yet I recommend Yi Yi by Edward Yang, it's one of, if not my favorite films and it speaks about the human condition and our life beautifully through characters from different generations.
That title is so poshlost to me
it's a horror movie
I saw it. Pretty horrible. I would have preferred not to have seen it. I had read The Good Earth in my youth. Reminded me of that.
Hate gong li... Feels so unnatural in her acting...
You talk like RFK Jr. Try to speak up if you don't have vocal paralysis.
"however i would argue that the meaning of the red lantern constantly changes." - oh! ok... well, then i guess that means it's just kinda meaningless. these kinds of essays are so frustrating because they keep trying to pretentiously ascribe meaning to the meaningless. either the lanterns represent some THING, some THEME, or they don't. if what they represent "changes all the time" then they have no meaning.
I meant that the red lanterns change their meaning within the film. And not only do the viewer see them differently as the film goes on, but even the characters relate to it differently. This doesn't mean that they can be anything so they are meaningless, to me it's more about how our perspective changes on certain things as the plot moves forward.
Also, yes, in the end, as I explain they can actually be seen as something that is meaningless or serve no purpose, for Songlian at that point it is possibly meaningless, she is no longer oppressed by it, no longer strives for it, which is why she becomes 'free'. Even in real life, a flag or a religious symbol is only meaningful to certain people.
We can say the red lanterns are simply the symbol of oppression, but for Meishan and Zhuoyun it obviously means something else, just as in Chinese culture originally they are about family, wealth, and prosperity, which is also mentioned in the film by the master.
So it might seem pretentious to analyze the evolving nature of a simple symbol in a story, but in this film, the red lantern is the most important object, which is seen throughout the picture and is in the title as well.
You've misunderstood his point.
An object’s symbolism can change throughout a story. The change would also reflect the character’s change. Take Peter Pan for example, Neverland meant something different in the beginning of the movie than what it was at the end of the movie. In the beginning of the movie, it represented escapism to Wendy and her brothers, but towards the end it represented the consequences of refusing to grow up. It helped us to see how the development the characters had throughout the story.
Youre obviously not familiar with storytelling