Rebels of the Neon God (1992)

Name: Rebels of the Neon God (1992)
Cast: Wang Yu-wen, Chen Chao-jung, Lee Kang-sheng, Jen Chang-bin

Hoezo in KINO

This debut film of Malaysian born filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang who works and lives in Taiwan has a very different tone and approach compared to other films in our program as it has a very bleak perspective. Set in the early 90s Taipei, we see a darker side of the urban life and its youth, who struggle with their parents’ expectations and can’t make connections in modern life. They feel alienated and respond with apathy and violence. Visually stunning, with neon-lit scenes of crowded streets, arcade halls and skating rinks, reminiscent of Wong Kar Wai’s neon aesthetics of Hong Kong.

Credits

Regie: Tsai Ming-liang
Cast: Wang Yu-wen, Chen Chao-jung, Lee Kang-sheng, Jen Chang-bin
Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance
Speelduur: 106 minuten
Land: Taiwan
Taal: Chinees
Ondertiteling: Engels

Storyline

Defying his parents, disaffected youth Hsiao Kang drops out of the local cram school to head for the bright lights of downtown Taipei. He falls in wit Ah Tze, a young hoodlum, and their relationship is a confused mixture of hero-worship and rivalry that soon leads to trouble.

KINO is proud to present (re)introduce you to nine masterpieces from the Taiwan New Wave. These classics have remained underseen in cinemas, so it’s high time we showcase them on our grandest screen. Featuring films from the first and second wave by Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Ang Lee, Tsai Ming-liang and more. The films of this revolutionary movement in cinema history were artistically innovative, but also in their realistic portrayal of the Taiwanese people. They illustrated societal and economic shifts, much like Italian Neorealism in the 1940s. By capturing their cultural identity, these filmmakers created their own voice and their own national cinema. Trailer: Baris Azman