A Taiwanese Movies List: A Journey of Depth and Warmth

Taiwanese movies always exude a warm atmosphere, which is indescribable in connection with the sensitive and delicate characteristics of Taiwanese people, who have insight into the depths of human nature.

Whether it is a delicate depiction of human nature or an in-depth discussion of social issues, Taiwanese directors can always present the world’s various situations through a unique, thought-provoking perspective. In this article, we will recommend several well-known and intriguing Taiwanese movies for you and take you to experience the unique charm of Taiwanese movies.

1. “A City of Sadness”: A double tragedy of history and family

Director: Hou Hsiao-Hsien

Year: 1989

Type: Historical/Social

“A City of Sadness” can be called Hou Hsiao-hsien’s pinnacle, and it is also an indispensable classic representative of the Taiwanese film industry. The film takes the audience back to the most turbulent period of Taiwan’s history from 1945 to 1949, focusing on the impact of the 228 Incident and the White Terror on society.

The director takes the fate of the four brothers of the “Lin family” as a lead, not only describing the rise and fall of a family but also revealing the pain and struggle of the whole society in the post-war transformation with delicate brushstrokes. Although it is the joys and sorrows of the Lin family, it reveals a cumbersome period in Taiwan’s history.

Lin Wenqing, the deaf and mute, symbolizes the countless people who were forced to be silent but had a surging heart in that era. The camera in his hand is not only a tool to record the changes of the family and society, but also a silent struggle and witness. Through the subtle tension between “silence” and “witness”, the film subtly provokes the viewer to think deeply about language and expression: when sound is deprived, can image become a more powerful telling?

When you watch the movie for the first time, you can’t say that you fully understand the emotional message it wants to convey to you. Still, these simple pictures and lines are constantly echoing in your mind, and then you find that the imprint of that era has quietly hit the depths of your heart.

“A City of Sadness” is the first Taiwanese film to present the 228 Incident positively, and it still boldly uncovers the wounds of historical trauma in a highly politically sensitive environment at the time.

After the film’s release, it sparked a wide discussion in Taiwanese society, not only prompting the younger generation to re-examine this history but also promoting the process of collective reflection and social reconciliation. This work not only established Hou Hsiao-hsien’s status in the international film industry but also became an important milestone for Taiwanese films to go global.

2. “A Brighter Summer Day”: The Loss of Youth and the Helplessness of Society

Director: Yang Dechang

Year: 1991

Genre: Crime / Mystery

Duration: 237 minutes (about 4 hours)

The film has attracted international attention, was nominated for the Silver Lion Award at the Venice International Film Festival, and established Yang Dechang as a world-class director.

The film was inspired by a real-life juvenile delinquency case in Taiwan in the 1960s, popularly known as the “Bai Xiaoyuan Incident”. Director Yang Dechang recreates this story that shocked society through the lens, of trying to reveal the inner world of teenagers struggling in confusion. However, the film is not limited to depicting the impulses of adolescence, but also profoundly presents the unstable factors and the pervasive oppressive atmosphere of Taiwanese society at that time.

The protagonist of the story is the middle school student “Little Four” (played by Zhang Zhen), who was originally a resident of the mainland and later moved to Taiwan with his parents. This backdrop sets the film in a setting full of sharp contradictions: the conflict between provincials and provincials implicitly affects the ideology of society as a whole.

Xiao Si was originally introverted and kind, but gradually lost his way after coming into contact with the dark corners of society. The estrangement between parents and children, the high pressure of school education, and the emotional entanglement at the beginning of love are intertwined, and finally, Xiaosi is unable to find a balance between family and society and embarks on a road of no return.

By describing the close relationship between the fate of the individual and the social background, the film arouses the audience’s thinking about the question of “whether people can freely choose in the general environment”. The fates of the characters in the film are intertwined, showing a complex social outlook.

The use of long shots makes emotions and conflicts more real and profound as if the audience can experience the powerlessness of it. At the same time, the film uses natural light to give the picture more delicacy and warmth, bringing people an immersive sense of history. The whole film gives a sense of tragic beauty, and the depth and emotion are intertwined, making it an intriguing work.

3. “Cape No. 7”: A love letter across time and space

Director: Wei Desheng

Year: 2008

Genre: Romance / Comedy

“Cape No. 7” is a very human movie. More than 60 years ago, a Japanese teacher was forced to leave Hengchun due to the war, and wrote seven love letters to send to his lover in Taiwan, but could not be sent for various reasons. Letters have been rediscovered in modern times as bridges across time and space. The love line between Ah Jia and Tomoko in the play, as well as the various characters in the southern town, connect a world full of human touch and nostalgia.

Whether it is Ajia’s pursuit of her music dreams or Tomoko’s gradual integration into the town, it conveys the importance of sticking to your ideals in ordinary life, while also intertwining love and dreams, and the two grow together. The natural scenery and traditional humanistic atmosphere of Hengchun Town, through the director’s delicate lens language, create a warm and real-life atmosphere, allowing the audience to feel the unique charm of Taiwan’s countryside.

This film not only makes the audience feel a warm love and local feelings but also shows the subtle relationship between modern people, history, and culture. In particular, the film blends music, language, and local culture, presenting a unique multicultural atmosphere in Taiwan.

4. “What Time Is It There?”: Philosophical Reflections on Time and Loneliness

Director: Cai Mingliang

Year: 2001

Genre: Literature / Philosophy

Cai Mingliang has a reputation in the film industry for his unique art style, and “What Time Is It There” is one of his masterpieces. The movie tells the story of a mother and son who are surrounded by loneliness in their lives after the death of their father. The male protagonist Ah Xiang misses his father and a girl he had a brief encounter with and begins to cling to time, trying to regain the lost connection.

In the film, time becomes the link between people and between people and the world. Although Ah Xiang’s intersection with the girl was short, her departure made him fall into a long period of loneliness. Although they are located in two different places, Taipei and Paris, they are both experiencing similar emotional alienation issues.

Ah Xiang’s mother began to seek supernatural beliefs due to the death of her husband, trying to connect with the spirits of the dead through religion; Ah Xiang, on the other hand, escapes reality by changing time. Through this different way of coping, the film shows the different emotional reactions of family members in the face of family affection and death.

The minimalist dialogue, slow shots, and long silence all reveal the tone of loneliness and longing. The abstract concept of “time” also depicts the emotional estrangement between people, and deeply explores the theme of emotional alienation in modern society.

The film explores the cultural differences between the East and the West through the parallel narratives of the two cities of Taipei and Paris, especially the different understandings of time and loneliness.

This cross-cultural expression has made the film widely recognized in the international film industry. What time is it over there? won a number of nominations and awards at international film festivals such as Cannes, making Tsai’s artistic style globally recognized and further enhancing the international influence of Taiwanese films.

5. “Hear Me”: A Gentle Confession in a Silent World

Director: Zheng Fenfen

Year: 2009

Genre: Love / Youth

“Hear Me” is a romance film with sign language as the main narrative language, telling the love story between a young man Yang Yaqi, and a talented swimmer Huang Tiankuo. What is special about the film is that it uses sign language and body language to convey emotions, breaking through the limitations of language and making people rethink the meaning of language and communication.

It is full of gentle and delicate lens language, showing an affectionate confession in a silent world, and the whole viewing process is full of healing and warmth. The interaction between Tiankuo and Yang Yang not only conveys the innocence and beauty of first love but also makes people feel their bravery and persistence in the face of difficulties.

This courage not only represents their dedication to love but also symbolizes the hope and pursuit of life for young people. At the same time, the film presents the daily life and struggle of the hearing-impaired in a real and warm way, especially through the plot of Xiaopeng participating in the swimming competition, which profoundly shows the tenacity and courage of the hearing-impaired community in the process of chasing their dreams.

If you like a relaxed and warm atmosphere and are often moved by ordinary but deep feelings, this film may be more suitable for your taste, bringing you a pure and moving emotional experience.

6. “Little Big Women”: Female Power and Family Reconciliation

Director: Xu Chengjie

Year: 2020

Genre: Family / Drama

“Little Big Women” is a family movie full of female power, mainly telling the story of how three generations of women seek reconciliation and self-growth in the face of family conflicts. The in-depth portrayal of the mother-daughter conflict in the film, the collision of traditional concepts and modern values, made many viewers empathize and burst into tears.

The story begins with a funeral, after the death of her father, who has been away from home for many years, her mother Lin Xiuying (played by Chen Shufang) gathers her three daughters to return home to take care of the funeral. The three daughters have different personalities and life trajectories, and their father’s funeral has brought them together but there are constant conflicts.

As the funeral progresses, the contradictions that have been buried for many years gradually surface. However, when they reminisced about the warm past together, the three generations of women began to put aside their prejudices, gradually repaired their relationships, and regained their affection.

Love and conflict between mother and daughter are not uncommon in East Asian families. A mother’s affectionate dedication is often misunderstood as control in the eyes of her daughter, while her daughter’s independence is often seen as indifferent by her mother.

The differences brought about by the generation gap make family relationships strained. However, the end of the story always leads to mutual understanding and tolerance. Through delicate narrative techniques, the film vividly expresses the emotional entanglements in Taiwan’s traditional family structure, showing the tenacity and unyielding strength of women in the family.

“Little Big Women” tells the story of family conflicts and family reconciliation in a warm and delicate way, exploring maternal love, family responsibilities, and generational conflicts. After watching this movie, the audience will rediscover how important family affection is, and at the same time, they can also feel the power of love and tolerance in laughter and tears. It is not only a warm confession of family affection, but also an affectionate letter to all mothers.

Related: Best Taiwanese Dramas (Netflix, LINE TV, iQiyi)

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Epilogue

Taiwanese movies are not only full of entertainment, but also carry a rich history, culture, and emotions. Whether it’s a heavy work that explores social reality or a heart-warming love story, it can stimulate thinking and resonate during the movie-watching process. If you haven’t seen any of these Taiwanese movies, you might as well choose one of them to start and feel the deep emotions and thoughts contained in them.