5. the Story of Qiu Ju (1992)

Gong Plays Rural Woman Qiu Ju, Whose Husband Suffers a Groin Injury in a Dispute with a Village Chief. He Refuses to Apologise. Despite Being Pregnant, Qiu Ventures to the City to Lodge a Complaint with the Municipal Authorities. the Village Chief Is Eventually Imprisoned for 15 Days.

The First Chinese Production to Be Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Ju Dou Is a Romantic Tragedy That Offers a Lacerating Critique of China’s Patriarchy and the Feudal Values of the Early 20Th Century.

3. Red Sorghum (1987)

Adapted from a Novel of the Same Name by Nobel-Winning Writer Mo Yan, Red Sorghum Marked the Feature Film Debuts of Both Zhang and Gong. Set in a Sorghum Liquor Distillery During the Japanese Invasion of China in the 1930S, the Film Shows Humanity at Its Most Extreme, Featuring Rape, Massacres, and the Japanese Aggressors Ordering That a Man Be Skinned Alive.

2. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)

The Second Chinese Film to Be Nominated for an Academy Award, and Winner of the British Academy of Film and Television’s Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Raise the Red Lantern Portrays the Evils of China’s Former Patriarchal Society, in Which Women Were Nothing More Than Men’s Playthings.

Adapted from a Novel of the Same Name by Yu Hua, to Live Depicts Scenes from the Life of a Couple, Played by Gong and Ge You. Set in the Decades from the 1940S to the Cultural Revolution in the 1970S, the Film Reflects the Many Tragedies of Contemporary Chinese History, Including the Great Leap Forward and the Abolition of Private Property.

The 5 Best Films of Gong Li, Chinese Actress in the Spotlight, Starting with Red Sorghum, Her Debut Feature and That of Its Director, Zhang Yimou

Q: ‘Now It’s Best to Lie Low’: the Chinese Stars Hit by Entertainment Crackdown

Gong’s Later Films Pale in Comparison to Her Early Works and She Hasn’t Had a Memorable Role in the Past Decade. These Are Her Five Best Films, from Good to Great.

By Elena Rostova

• Oct 8, 2026 • 4 min read

The 5 Best Films of Gong Li, Chinese Actress in the Spotlight, Starting with Red Sorghum, Her Debut Feature and That of Its Director, Zhang Yimou

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

‘Now It’s Best to Lie Low’: the Chinese Stars Hit by Entertainment Crackdown

Elena Rostova

Lead Health, Wellness & Medical Journalist

Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.

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