Adapted from three of Huang Chun-ming's short stories, this episodic film portrays the struggles of marginalised individuals during challenging times. It skilfully blends moments of self-doubt with dignity, humour with sorrow, and hope with despair, capturing the emotional turmoil and innocence of people confronting the intrusion of foreign influences in a developing nation. Widely regarded as foundational in Taiwan's New Cinema, this film reflects the social realities of the era with deep empathy and sharp satire.
They are delighted to have Andrew Pike OAM introduce the film!
Andrew Pike OAM is a film distributor, film historian and documentary film-maker. His company, Ronin Films, was formed in 1974 and has distributed over 500 Australian films including Strictly Ballroom and Shine. In addition, Ronin imported many cutting-edge East-Asian films for general release in Australia, including key films by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. He operated the Electric Shadows Twin Cinema in Canberra from 1979 to 2006, showing an eclectic range of world cinema to large audiences of enthusiasts. In 2007, he received an Order of Australia Medal and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Canberra for services to the film industry and to the community.
Directors | Hou Hsiao-hsien, Wan Jen, and Tseng Chuang-hsiang
1983 | 105 minutes | Mandarin, Taiwanese, Chinese and English Subtitles