Soon after Japan relinquishes control of Taiwan in 1945, the Lin brothers face hardships from the changing culture. Bar owner Wen-heung, the eldest brother, falls foul of local gangsters, Wen-sun disappears, and Wen-leung, scarred by his experiences in the war, ends up in an insane asylum. Deaf-mute photographer Wen-ching, the youngest brother, decides to make a stand and fight the Kuomintang government from China that is assuming power.
Director: Hou Hsiao-Hsien. AKA 悲情城市 / A City of Sadness
Writers: T’ien-wen Chu, Nien-Jen Wu.
Stars: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Chen Sung-young, Jack Kao, Li Tian-lu, Xin Shufen, Wu Yi-fang, Nakamura Ikuyo, Jan Hung-tze, Wu Nien-jen, Zhang Dachun.
Cinematographer: Huai-En Chen.
Composer: Naoki Tachikawa.
1989 Venice Film Festival – Winner of the Golden Lion.
This is a weirdly hard to find masterpiece. Thank you!
Seeing this and The Puppetmaster (1993) in 35mm we’re highlights of my life. The film’s scarce availability is due to its very convoluted rights situation-there have long been whispers of Triad (mob) money being used to help make it, but who knows. I think this film may have a record for the most spoken languages during its runtime
Brilliant film. Not to be miss
Thank goodness for this site.Magnificent film. I still kick myself for not getting the video when it was affordable.
I’ve been looking for this movie for a long time. Thank you!!
I know that there is a new restoration of the movie done last year, could we possibly get it up on here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6m_7eleZXw
This is considered one of the best films of Hou Hsiao Hsien, the details may be a little difficult to follow at times but the crux of the story is clear and the film very good – although personally I prefer some of his other films.
Just one question: is this the right aspect ratio of the film? I know Jon always gets the best version, so I’m sure nothing else is available. But from the position of faces, bodies, objects etc., doesn’t it look like a bit at the bottom is missing? Still very enjoyable of course.
Hi George,
Yeah, comparing it with the 4K restoration that Ryan posted a trailer here this copy seems to be a bit overcropped at the top and bottom, here’s a comparison:
https://imgur.com/a/ScuTdJO
For now this is the only copy available until someone leaks the 4K restored version.