Self-bondage, Quest for Knowledge and Redemption: An Interpretation of the Female Image in The Flowers of Gold

Abstract

The Flowers of War, directed by Zhang Yimou and adapted from Yan Geling's novel, has aroused strong reactions both at home and abroad since its release. With a unique female perspective, the film tells the tragic story of 13 prostitutes who go to a Japanese banquet in a church in order to save the schoolgirls who are about to be captured by the Japanese army. Different from other war films, The Flowers of War focuses on women. This study deeply interprets the female group images in the film and analyzes from three dimensions: gender identity oppression, seeking knowledge of female images, and female self-redemption, aiming to reveal the oppression and discrimination suffered by women compared with men in the war years, and at the same time reflect on the powerful power displayed by women today, so as to promote the society's re-examination of female images. It is expected that this will trigger more thinking about female identity in the academic community and open up new ideas for exploring gender equality.