LED Symphonies - 16 New Wave Movies from Hong-Kong & Taiwan
Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema have been no stranger to global popularity. The films of these countries held international recognition for decades, beginning with the 1960s Kung Fu film movement and going on to produce stars like Bruce Lee. Following his death, there was a notable decline in the viewership of Hong Kong-produced films. As such young filmmakers, many of whom studied overseas, had to begin taking a new approach in the definition of Hong Kong cinema. This would lead to a conceivably more popular genre, fittingly described by Hong Kong director Wong Jing as “an Eastern spirit in a Western package.” This new wave produced renowned directors such as Wong Kar-wai, Anne Hui, Fruit Chan, and Johnny To. In the mid-1980s to early 90s, Hong Kong itself was considered a worthy rival against Hollywood cinema due to its exporting of more films per year than any other country in the world, except America.
In response to the movement in Hong Kong, Taiwan also experienced a film renaissance due to a decline in popularity of locally produced films. To combat the overseas competition, the state-run studio CMPC created an incentive for young directors in hopes of motivating them to revive local viewership. So began the birth of new Taiwanese cinema; which can be greatly accredited to the likes of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Edward Yang, Ang Lee, Tsai Ming-Liang, and many more.
Early new wave cinema, aimed to bring film narratives home through a down-to-earth approach. They created relatable imagery that portrayed the loneliness of life in a bustling city, poverty, and conflicts with political authority. Most frequently depicted were scenarios of unrequited love in the fast lanes of kaleidoscope-coloured universes. This differed greatly from the former star genre of these countries - Kung-Fu. Hong Kong new wave cinema and Taiwanese new cinema have captured the hearts and eyes of viewers both locally and internationally, their imagery, movie scores, and storylines have something that all viewers can relate to in any time period. In celebration of that, we hope you enjoy a selection of a few favourites of ours.
“This is what the difference is between Hong Kong and Chinese cinema - Chinese cinema was made for their own communities. It was for propaganda. But Hong Kong made films to entertain, and they know how to communicate with international audiences”
MILLENNIUM MAMBO
Hou Hsiao-Hsien (2001)
Millennium Mambo is a film that defines what it means to be shallow, young, and beautiful. The story follows Vicky, as she retells the happenings of her neon-daydream past. The cinematography and music exhibited in this movie are absolutely captivating, and they invite the viewer along for the whirlwind experience. The plot of this film can at times leave you feeling as though you’ve experienced a breakup without closure; which is exactly how one may give an account of their own turbulent past. There is no moment to question anything, however, as you’re too enamored with the easily disintegratable dream.
2. FIRST LOVE: THE LITTER ON THE BREEZE
Eric Kot (1998)
Although produced by Wong Kar-wai this film was created to be almost a parody of Chung-King express, and often takes many digs against the film. Visually Narrated by director Eric Kot himself, this film follows the story of Kot’s process in deciding a love story to create. Eventually settling on the relationships between a garbage man and a sleepwalking woman, and a convenience store owner and his first love, Kot often breaks the fourth wall to give viewers every detail of how these stories came to be.
3. CHUNGKING EXPRESS
Wong Kar-wai (1994)
Chungking Express is a cult classic film. It can definitely be said that it paved the way for almost all the films on this list and its influence can be seen in the work of directors such as Quentin Tarantino and Sophia Coppola. Through gorgeous cinematography, and an excellent soundtrack this film simultaneously follows the stories of two separate policemen on their rollercoaster ride with love.
4. AWAY WITH WORDS
Christopher Doyle (1999)
Directed by Christopher Doyle, famed for his cinematography work on Wong Kar-wai films; Away with words is a cross-cultural film, taking place in Hong Kong from the perspective of both locals and expatriates. As such its script is in Cantonese, English, and Japanese. The story follows the melancholic happenings of a Japanese man and the debauchery of an alcohol-induced-amnesiac, gay bar-owner.
5. FALLEN ANGELS
Wong Kar-wai (1995)
In regular Wong Kar-wai fashion, Fallen Angels portrays two separate stories. The first, follows a hitman and his ‘ business’ partner who cleans his apartment and gives him location details on how to make a hit. After her love for him is revealed, he seeks to end their arrangement, but not before completing one final deadly request.
The second story follows a deranged mute, with criminal tendencies and his nightly affairs as a coercive ‘subletting’ shop owner.
6. HAPPY TOGETHER
Wong Kar-wai (1997)
Happy Together portrays the story of a couple that takes a trip from Hong Kong to Argentina as an attempt to reinvigorate their tumultuous relationship. After an expected argument breaks out, the two run out of money and begin residing in Argentina for longer than they had hoped for. The film does well to highlight the alienation experienced by the two as Chinese men living in Argentina, and the homesickness they feel once they realize the advantages of life back home. Although the trip was meant to bring the two together, it inevitably sends them on their separate life paths.
7. DURIAN DURIAN
Fruit Chan (2000)
Durian fruit is known for its unappetizing, hard appearance and pungent smell yet is loved by many due to its unexpectedly sweet flavor. This premise metaphorically serves as the theme for Durian Durian. The story follows a young girl and her neighbour, a 21-year-old prostitute from Mainland China throughout her escapades in Hongkong.
8. MADE IN HONG KONG
Fruit Chan (1997)
Made in Hong Kong follows Narrator Autumn Moon through his gritty life as a triad debt collector in the underbelly of Hong Kong during the ‘Handover’ period. Abandoned by his parents and traumatized by the deaths of those close to him, Moon decides to take his revenge on the world.
9. AS TEARS GO BY
Wong Kar-wai (1998)
As is likely evident throughout this list, Wong Kar-wai is a Gata favourite, a trip throughout his discography will lead you to his Debut film: As Tears Go by - a great debut indeed.
The story follows the escapades of two mobsters centering primarily on Wah. Through two parallel stories, As Tears Go By portrays the love affair Wah experiences with his cousin, and the difficulties he struggles with protecting his trouble-prone sai lo (subordinate), Fly.
10. TAPEI STORY
Edward Yang (1985)
Taipei Story is a coming-of-age film that portrays the themes of hopelessness entwined with realism. It follows a young woman as she struggles to navigate her future in the bustling maze that is Taipei while placing hope in her partner who seems to be lost in the past.
11. THREE TIMES
Hou Hsiao-hsien (2005)
Three Times is a film that consists of three separate love stories, portrayed in different eras, yet containing the same leads. The film delivers a gaze into the evolution of nonverbal communication throughout its depicted eras, in a way that only film can portray.
12. WHAT TIME IS IT THERE
Tsai Ming-Liang (2001)
What Time Is It There centers on a street vendor in Taipei who falls in love with a woman about to depart for France. Forging an instant connection, the street vendor Hsiao Kang, can’t get the woman out of his mind and changes all his clocks to Paris time.
13. REBELS OF THE NEON GOD
Tsai Ming-liang (1992)
Rebels of the Neon God is Tsai Ming-liang’s directorial debut. In it, we follow the story of two teen rebels trying to navigate their lives at the epicenter of grungy 90’s Taipei. One boy a delinquent pickpocket, and the other a dropout son of a taxi driver; their lives intertwine via a spiral of unfortunate events yet the two never personally meet.
14. GOODBYE SOUTH, GOODBYE
Hou Hsiao-hsien (1996)
Goodbye South, Goodbye centers around the themes of movement and waiting, as most of the film takes place while its gangster characters are in transit or anticipating the next ‘transaction.’
15. MAHJONG
(1996) Edward Yang
Often described as Yang’s angriest film, Mahjong explores the grittiness of rapid urbanization and restlessness of the city of Taipei. The film follows various characters, each pursuing their own selfish desires at any cost, and later are forced to reckon with the face of their own humanity.
16. GOODBYE, DRAGON INN.
Tsai Ming-liang (2003)
Goodbye, Dragon Inn follows the stories of various theater employees at an old Taipei cinema during its final showing. The characters slowly take in their last moments of the place, mourning the end of an era in a beautifully melancholic fashion.