Hoezo in KINO

We couldn’t secure this film for our Taiwan New Wave program, so we’re very proud to present Hou Hsiao-hsien’s A City of Sadness (1989), widely regarded as one of the most important Taiwanese films of all time, with special screenings on 11 and 23 September only. Made just after the end of 38 years of martial law in Taiwan, the film was among the first to openly confront the nation’s troubled history. Often considered Hou Hsiao-hsien’s magnum opus, it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1989. True to Hou’s way of storytelling and direction, the film focuses on the personal struggles of one family, choosing to show the personal effects on ordinary people instead of dramatizing historical and political events. For the first screening on 11 September, PhD candidate Li-An Ko will provide historical context and discuss the film’s lasting impact on Taiwanese cinema. These screenings were made possible with the support of The Taipei Representative Office.