A City of Sadness main backdrop
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A City of Sadness

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7.5/10 • 141

1989-10-212h 38m

DramaHistory

The story of a family embroiled in the "White Terror," the Kuomintang government's anti-communist political repression that was wrought on the Taiwanese people from 1947-1987.

Directors
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Writters
Wu Nien-jen, Chu Tien-Wen

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Tony Leung Chiu-wai

    Tony Leung Chiu-wai

    Wen-Ching

  2. Hsin Shu-Fen

    Hsin Shu-Fen

    Wu Kuan Mei / Hinome

  3. Chan Chung-Yung

    Chan Chung-Yung

    Wen-Heung

  4. Jack Kao

    Jack Kao

    Wen Leung

  5. Tai Bo

    Tai Bo

    Ah Jia

  6. Li Tian-Lu

    Li Tian-Lu

    Ah Lu

  7. Grace Chen Shu-Fang

    Grace Chen Shu-Fang

    Meidai

  8. Wu Nien-jen

    Wu Nien-jen

    Mr. Wu

  9. Tsai Chen-Nan

    Tsai Chen-Nan

    Singer

Reviews1

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badelf Avatar

badelf

Nov 15, 2021

9/10

This film, even at 20 years old, may be the strongest cinematic statement I've ever seen against country "boundaries" and "imperialism". Between the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese people lived in Taiwan under Japanese rule for two generations. By WW II, they were living alongside the Japanese and the remaining (that's another story) indigenous peoples more or less peacefully. The Taiwanese, after two generations, were neither Chinese, nor Japanese, nor indigenous. When Japan lost the war and withdrew, the Chinese government took over with disastrous consequences. THAT is viscerally described in this masterpiece. What's really lost on a white boy like me is the nuances of the dialects. In fact, the reason that Tony Leung is a deaf mute is that he couldn't convincingly speak the Taiwanese dialect! (At least I'm in good company, LOL)

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  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster
  • A City of Sadness poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
Chinese
Budget
--
Revenue
--
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