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A City of Sadness

Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Hsin Shu-Fen

Chan Chung-Yung

Jack Kao

Tai Bo

Li Tian-Lu

Grace Chen Shu-Fang

Wu Nien-jen

Tsai Chen-Nan

King Shih-Chieh

Su-Yun Ko

Wou Yi Fang

Chi-Ying Kao

Ho Ai-Yun

Huang Chien-ru

Ju Lin

Lih-Ching Lin

Ching Lu

Ikuyo Nakamura

Mei Fang

Ta-chuen Chang

Hou Hsiao-hsien

Yau Fook-Sang

Ching-an Yang

Chang Tso-chi

Chen Hwai-En

Tu Duu-Chih

Chu Tien-Wen

Chi-Wah Lau

Lam Shung-Man

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)

A City of Sadness (1989) Trailer

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A City of Sadness

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