Female Characters Suffer from Sexual Violence in Zhang Yimou's Films: Their Images and Representations

In this paper, it provides a critical analysis of the portrayal of female characters experiencing sexual violence in Zhang Yimou's films, a prominent director known for his controversial depictions of women. It categorizes these characters into three distinct types: prostitutes, wives without abilities of self-protection, and women using sex for resistance. The paper examines the representation of these types across films such as The Flowers of War (2011), Full River Red (2023), Article 20 (2024),Coming Home (1978), Under the Light (2023), and JuDou (1990), revealing a pattern where their victimization and resistance are often framed within male-dominated narratives. This paper argues that, despite their attempts to rebel and resist, these characters are sexualized in the films and remain confined within a patriarchal framework, thereby reinforcing rather than challenging gender stereotypes. The paper concludes with a call for a reevaluation of these cinematic portrayals, thus advocating for more complex and empowering depictions of women that transcend traditional narratives.