Taipei Suicide Story (Taiwan, 2020)

A receptionist at a suicide hotel in Taipei, Taiwan forms a fleeting friendship over the course of one night with a guest who can't decide if she wants to live or die.

For its short running time, Taipei Suicide Story ambitiously tackles some difficult subjects. What makes it work is that it doesn't overdo it, but focuses more on the personal emotional depth of only two characters. In an environment where dozens of people take the most extreme action to end their pain, a young woman is hesitating. Slowly we're getting to know her more and more, but also knowing in the back of our head that the end of the night could spell the end of that friendship. 

A melancholic exercise in figuring out someone on the edge, but not without its subtle tenderness. 

Genre: Drama/Short. 45min.

Taipei Story (Taiwan, 1985)

Lung, a former member of the national Little League team and now operator of an old-style fabric business, is never able to shake a longing for his past glory. One day he runs into a former teammate who is now a struggling cab driver. The two talk about old times and they are struck by a sense of loss. Lung is living with his old childhood sweetheart Ah-chin, a westernized professional woman who grew up in a traditional family. Although they live together, Ah-chin is always weary of Lung's past liaison with another girl.

Hsiao-Hsien Hou, director of films such as The Assassin (2015) and Café Lumière (2003), stars in this gorgeous film made by the late Edward Yang (Yi Yi) which lay bare a not-so-perfect relationship between two people in their thirties. Yang is a master at portraying the emotional weight the lovers carry, and making the characters speak without words. We also get the chance to revel in his beautiful cinematography which is a constant reminder of his ability to look at people, urban landscapes and the smallest but most intimate moments.

Genre: Drama

Daughter of the Nile (Taiwan, 1987)

The eldest daughter of a broken and troubled family works to keep the family together and look after her younger siblings, who are slipping into a life of crime.

Watching a film by Hou Hsiao-hsien (Café Lumière, The Assassin) is like opening a bottle of Taiwan's finest movie magic. His restrained and subtle way of shooting scenes feels like a must-have in our contemporary cinematic hell of exaggerated editing, simplified storytelling and dumbed down characters for the masses. Daughter of the Nile spoils us with a beautiful portrayal of life in 1980's Taipei's neon-soaked street-corners and crowded bars. We get to see just how close the danger lies even to those who should be far from it. 

Hou is a big name in Asian film circles, but I'm certain that if he would have been a western filmmaker his films would make a much larger splash and be acclaimed by a much larger audience. Now they sort of lives on as an old reminder of how Taiwan made films in ways critics praise directors for in modern times.

Genre: Crime/Drama

Murmur of the Hearts (Hong Kong/Taiwan, 2006)

An artist reunites with her brother after the two were separated years ago when she left Liudau, an island off of Taiwan.

As soon as I began to watch Murmur of the Hearts, I knew I was going to like it. The beautiful imagery grabbed me immediately, and after realizing this film also had some powerful performances, I was sold. It oozes with quality and even though it's not a film where a ton of stuff is happening all the time, it's downright mesmerizing. Recommended for those who want a delicate romance story to fall in love with. And don't worry that it's cheesy and over-sweet, because it's thankfully not and takes itself much more seriously. 

Genre: Drama/Romance

The Assassin (Taiwan/Hong Kong, 2015)

The film is set during the mighty Tang Dynasty-period in Chinese history. Nie Yinniang returns to family after several years in exile. The mission of her order is to eliminate the tyranny of the Governors who avoid the authority of the Emperor. Now she will have to choose between sacrificing the man she loves, or break definitively with the "order of the Assassins".

One of 2015's best looking films is here, and it's directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien (Café Lumière, Millennium Mambo). It's actually his first feature film in about eight years so he obviously had a lot of time to plan this project. Let me tell you that it shows. The Assassin contains so many breathtakingly beautiful scenes that it's almost ridiculous, with characters standing on top of mountains while clouds are literally swallowing them, or when the camera slowly pans to show a sword fight going on in the distance. That's also one thing to note: the fact that Hou never gets all action-camera on you, he basically always uses his more slower movements and calm camera work. Kind of like Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story), who also were a master of rarely moving the camera.

The Assassin should be watched at the right time due to its slow tempo. It's never in a rush or tries to get to the violence faster. We get long monologues and long takes of people traversing forests and mountains. So have patience with it and dive into one of the most visually astounding films in recent times.

Genre: Action/Drama

A Brighter Summer Day (Taiwan, 1991)

A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in 1960s Taiwan.

A four hour long movie, directed by Edward Yang who also made my favorite movie of all time, Yi Yi (2000). A Brighter Summer Day is based on a real incident that happened in the 60's when Edward was only 13 years old, an event that later got the name "The Murder Incident of the boy on Guling Street". Edward isn't afraid of working with a huge cast, in Yi Yi there were many, many characters and minor parts played by amateur actors. A Brighter Summer Day though, uses no less than 100 amateur actors in different, minor roles. That's quite impressive, and was one of the biggest Chinese projects of its time.

But on the other hand, it's such a huge film with a running time that requires your dedication. If you are willing to give it that, A Brighter Summer Day proves to be one of the more powerful and unforgettable drama movies ever. 

Genre: Drama/Crime/Romance

What Time is it There? (Taiwan, 2001)

When a young street vendor with a grim home life meets a woman on her way to Paris, they forge an instant connection. He changes all the clocks in Taipei to French time; as he watches François Truffaut's "The 400 Blows", she has a strange encounter with its now aging star, Jean-Pierre Leaud.

Tsai Ming-liang has done some really memorable and beautiful films, two of my favorites are Vive l'Amour (1994) and Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003). What Time is it There? continues with the same unique film style, It has that certain something like it's adapted from a really good book, almost. The female actress in the lead makes a genuinely amazing performance and I found myself unconsciously holding my breath in the scene where she's in the bed and looks into the eyes of another woman. The tension and presence was so thick you could cut it with a knife. That's how movies should be.  

A stunning and mesmerizing story about two individuals who seem a little lost in life, and their way of finding a way back. Even if it means changing the time on every clock in the city.

Genre: Drama/Romance

The Wayward Cloud (Taiwan, 2005)

There's a drought in Taiwan. Watermelon are abundant and become juice, food, something to share with a guest, and an aphrodisiac. In a large building of flats, Hsiao-Kang and Shiang-chyi's paths cross; she knew him when he sold watches, now he acts in pornographic films. She scavenges for plastic water bottles. He bathes in the building's cistern. Song and dance numbers punctuate the characters' nearly aimless pursuits: she has lost her keys and he helps her find them; he naps in a park, she watches; can they connect?

First I feel like I should warn you that this film is intended for mature audiences only, due to it's extremely graphic sex scenes. The opening scene sets the bar for how nuts this film is, and the closing shot made people walk out of the theater on it's premiere. It blends sex, anxiety, porn and comedy in such a brutal way that it's impossible not to get affected. Whether you're affected in a good or a bad way, that solely depends on you. 

Directed by Tsai Ming-liang who also made fantastic films such as Vive l'Amour (1994) and Goodbye, Dragon Inn (2003), he tried something more daring with The Wayward Cloud and  in my opinion succeeded in creating something we've never seen before and will never see again. That will always be impressive to me.

Genre: Drama

Rebels of the Neon God (Taiwan, 1992)

Defying by his parents, Hsiao Kang drops out of the local crammer to head for the bright lights of downtown Taipei. He falls in with Ah Tze, a pretty hood and their relationships is a confused mixture of hero-worship and rivalry that soon leads to trouble.

Youth, and all the troubles that it brings. That's what Rebels of the Neon God is about. Through sweaty arcade halls, boring jobs and late nights at the cafe, we follow a couple of teenagers that are trying to break free from the shackles of early 90's Taipei. The city itself looks almost decadent and you can nearly smell the pollution and the exhaust fumes, making it feel like a filthy metropolis that breeds adolescence and youngsters without goals. To give it a more realistic look, it is filmed with handheld cameras and I love when that style is done right, as it is here. 

Rebel of the Neon God is a film that deals with teen angst and the search for something more, something that could make make life easier and whether it's money or love, these kids are hell-bent on finding it.

Genre: Drama

The Terrorizers (Taiwan, 1986)

A metaphysical mystery about the lives of three couples in Taipei that continually intersect over a span of several weeks.

The director of The Terrorizers, Edward Yang, only made a handful of movies, including my favorite film of all time: Yi Yi (2000), but still managed to be recognized as one of the most important film-makers ever. He sadly passed away in 2007, but his work will always be remembered. 

The Terrorizers shows Yang's skill at bringing out the best in his actors, the tears and the subtle gestures feels so real that it's scary. He follows a small group of people that sooner or later will cross each others paths, and when they do, nothing will ever be the same again. A relationship is portrayed almost as a house of cards that's about to fall, there's no way to turns things around once things begin to crumble. 

Yang's use of static shots are also magnificent, making it almost feel like a Yasujiro Ozu (Tokyo Story) film. Not bad at all. So, as you can tell I'm more than satisfied with The Terrorizers. It didn't knock down Yi Yi from the number one spot, but for me, it once again cemented Edward Yang as one of the sharpest film-makers to have lived. Rest in peace.

Genre: Drama

The Hole (Taiwan, 1998)

A strange disease starts to affect people in Taiwan just before the year 2000. The authorities order everyone to evacuate, but some tenants of an apartment building stay put, including a shop owner who lives by himself. One day, a plumber goes to the shop owner's apartment to check the pipes. The plumber drills a small hole in the floor, which comes down through the ceiling of another apartment. The hole never gets repaired, and this leads to some tension between the shop owner and the woman who lives below him. 

I hope you're the kind of person that can handle a film with a slow pace, because Tsai Ming-liang's (Goodbye, Dragon Inn, Vive l'Amour) The Hole sure is taking its sweet time convincing you that this film is indeed amazing. Don't worry, it is amazing, but it may take a while before you know it. Imagine the opposite (ok, almost) of a Hollywood blockbuster with enormous explosions and a huge cast, then throw out the script and keep the dialogue down to a minimum. A great film, if you have the patience for it. 

Genre: Drama

A City of Sadness (Hong Kong/Taiwan, 1989)

A meditative look into the country’s transition from the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, to its secession from mainland China in 1949 and beginning of nearly 40 years of martial law. Formally rigorous approach, along with a contemplative and mournful tone, were used for chronicling how each seemingly positive development, which, at that point, provided reason for hope for a more peaceful future, eventually always led to tragedy.

A City of Sadness is a striking story about one family's journey through some of the hardest years in Taiwanese history. In one of the main roles we have the outstanding Tony Leung, who's been in great films like In the Mood for Love (2000) and 2046 (2004). This film is spoiled with great actors who give much credibility to some really horrific events, and watching this film feels like an essential cultural achievement.  

Genre: Drama

Millennium Mambo (Taiwan, 2001)

The youthful Vicky is torn between two men, Hao-hao and Jack. At night she works as a PR person at a nightclub to support both of them. Hao-hao keeps vigilance over her all the time, no matter if she is on or off the job. He checks her charge accounts, telephone bills, mobile phone records, and even her body odor in an attempt to trace Vicky's activities. She cannot stand him any longer; she runs away. Hao-hao finds her, begging her to go home. She sets herself a deadline to end the relationship - when the $500,000 in her bank account is used up.

Another great film from the almighty director Hou Hsiao-Hsien (Raise the Red Lantern). Millennium Mambo portrays a flawed relationship to say the least, with the help of a really good actress in the lead. Youth and love can often be a terrible combination, and here's a love triangle that shows you exactly why. 

Genre: Drama/Romance

Three Times (Taiwan, 2005)

In 1966, Chen meets May playing pool in a bar when he is joining the army. He sends letters to her and he comes to the bar to meet her again in his leave. However, May had traveled to another place and Chen seeks her out. In 1911, the writer Mr. Chang works for Mr. Liang and frequently travels to a brothel, where he meets the singer. He financially helps the courtesan Ah Mei to become a concubine. When the singer asks him if he would help her to leave the brothel, there is no answer. In 2005, in Taipei, the messy relationship of the photographer Zhen, his girlfriend Jing and a bisexual singer.

Three love stories set in different time periods, same two actors. Originally the three segments would have different directors, but after some financing problems director Hou Hsiao-Hsien took over the production, which I can't complain about because Three Times is a gorgeous film with some serious variety in settings and characters. Some may find the middle to be a bit slow paced with the dialogue being written instead of spoken, but it's all good if you ask me and I got to hand it to the director for being able to show such range in the story.  

Genre: Drama/Romance

Starry Starry Night (Taiwan/China, 2011)

12-year-old Mei grew up with her grandparents in the mountains, but now lives with her parents in the city. Her parents constantly fight and she ignored at home. Mei withdraws into her own world and imagination. One day Mei meets transfer student Lee. Mei takes a liking to Lee who seems as withdrawn to the world as Mei. After Mei saves Lee from bullies their friendship becomes real. As Mei home life worsens and her parents announce their divorce, Mei turns to Lee and plan their escape.

You could think that Starry Starry Night is another cute high school drama, but you'd also be dead wrong. It's a story of a girl who's being torn from her childhood and is forced to face the harsh reality of adults and the fact that love isn't something that always lasts. Mei's fantasies comes to life with beautiful animations and in a great way enhances how lonely she is, because if she can't be comforted by her own parents, then maybe she can feel better with a blue, wooden elephant by her side.

Genre: Drama

Blue Gate Crossing (Taiwan, 2002)

Best friends Meng and Yuezhen share everything with each other. One day, Yuezhen wants Meng to give a message to the boy she likes and tell him she's interested. Things don't go according to plan and Meng finds herself in a confusing situation where her sexuality is questioned. 

A simple but warm coming-of-age drama about teen angst, lazy school days and relationships. 

Genre: Drama/Romance

Lust, Caution (China/Taiwan/Hong Kong, 2007)

Teen Wong Chia Chi, a shy college freshman finds her calling in a drama society devoted to patriotic plays. But the troupe's leader, Kuang Yu Min, isn't just a theater maven -- he's a revolutionary as well, and he's devoted to carrying out a bold plan to assassinate top Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee. Wong puts herself in a dangerous position as Mrs. Mak; she befriends Mr. Yee's wife, and slowly gains trust before tempting him into an affair.

Lust, Caution is a tight, well-directed espionage film with fantastic actors, Tony Leung (Chungking Express) among others. Director Ang Lee has created a beautiful portrayal of 1930-40's Hong Kong and Shanghai and fills it with a thrilling assassination story. 

Genre: Drama/Romance/Thriller

Eat Drink Man Woman (Taiwan, 1994)

Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a large house in Taipei with his three unmarried daughters, Jia-Jen, a chemistry teacher converted to Christianity, Jia-Chien, an airline executive, and Jia-Ning, a student who also works in a fast food restaurant. Life in the house revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday, and the love lives of all the family members.

A mouth-watering mix of cooking and romance, Eat Drink Man Woman is an exquisite drama that will captivate every type of audience. We follow the three daughters and their very different and changing lives, but they all comes in contact with love in some way or another. I could watch Master Chef Chu cook all day long, it's somehow extremely stimulating and makes you drool and wish that you could eat just about all of it. The word food-porn comes to mind. Directed by Ang Lee who also made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) but this time he works his magic within the boundaries of a plate full of delicious food, and captures life with all its beautiful and bitter ingredients.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Vive L'Amour (Taiwan, 1994)

The film focuses on three city folks who unknowingly share the same apartment: Mei, a real estate agent who uses it for her sexual affairs; Ah-jung, her current lover; and Hsiao-ang, who's stolen the key and uses the apartment as a retreat. 

Vive L'Amour is as its title implies, a film about love, but not in any convential way. It's about three people who's lives become entangled through an apartment. It's minimalistic in its execution with extremely little dialogue, and takes place mainly around the same rooms the whole movie. Quiet and subtle, yet very emotional. An unforgettable, powerful experience and features a scene which actually made me unconsciously hold my breath. Powerful.

Genre: Drama. 1h 58min.