“Yang’s artistry evokes the sensation that you aren’t just observing these events unfold, but that you’re watching them through his eyes – as if the filmmaker was a ghost observing these characters.” - Adam Kempenaar, Filmspotting
“Here, Yang has erected a temporal experience, a completely immersive world that few artists in any medium could ever hope to do. If you love cinema, you'll love this movie. That's a promise.” - Christopher Bell, Indiewire
Friday, January 19, 6:15 p.m. (Encore) | Set in the early 1960s in Taiwan, this singular masterpiece is based on the true story of a juvenile homicide case that rocked the nation. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, this novelistic, patiently observed epic centers on the gradual, inexorable fall of a young teenager (Chen Chang, in his first role) from innocence to juvenile delinquency, and is set against a simmering backdrop of restless youth, rock and roll, and political turmoil. Restored in 2009 by the Cineteca di Bologna/L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, in association with The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project, the Central Motion Picture Corporation, and the Edward Yang Estate. Scan performed at Digimax laboratories in Taipei. Restoration funded by Armani, Cartier, Qatar Airways, and Qatar Museum Authority.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Special Jury Prize (tied), FIPRESCI Prize, Tokyo International Film Festival
Winner - Best Director - Asian Feature Film, Silver Screen Award, Singapore International Film Festival
Winner - Best Feature Film, Golden Horse Film Festival
Edward Yang: Cities and Souls: Including brand-new restorations of MAHJONG and A CONFUCIAN CONFUSION, this five-film retrospective of Edward Yang (1947–2007) celebrates the Taiwanese auteur’s vital contribution to the Taiwanese New Wave, his masterful explorations of past and present, his patient, nuanced portrayals of authentic relationships, and his rich, interconnected narratives. View full series.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu