270 | Rewatching "City of Sadness" 30 times, I understand what Taiwan is
Author: Jia Xuanning (born in Beijing, grew up in Hong Kong, now lives in Taiwan. Media person, commentator, but in fact his main job is to do academics, focusing on Hong Kong and Taiwan regional studies, comparative politics and cultural studies.) Original release time: 2023/2/20
The restored version of "A City of Sadness" was re-screened after a lapse of 33 years, and many of the audience who participated in the preview were younger than the film. And even if I have watched the DVD no less than 20 or 30 times, the big screen will still make me reconfirm the meaningful meaning of the film. "As a Taiwanese, you must see a movie in your life" is certainly not a beautiful word, but the reason why "City of Sadness" is a classic lies in that it is the origin of the intersection of video aesthetics, historical issues and human landscape. If you are not Taiwanese, you will understand what "Taiwan" is if you walk into it through any emotional dimension.
As an undergraduate majoring in film, I was only too late to realize this masterpiece of Taiwanese film history.
More than ten years ago, a copy of "City of Sadness" was screened in the standard screening hall of the school (Beijing Film Academy Standard Screening Hall). I just missed it. There was thunderous applause.
I know it's a good movie, but I didn't have empathy back then. The historical soul of "228" is too far away from my growth background. When I sit and watch the pirated DVD, I can only see that the composition is exquisite, the camera has a master feel (but the indoor scene can hardly see the face clearly), Xin Shufen is standing The shot of Liang Chaowei watching the rumbling train passing by is so classic... For a long time, I only had these dull impressions of "City of Sadness".
Reunited with the City of Sadness in Jiufen
After graduating from university, I lived in Hong Kong for a long time, and I didn't care about Taiwan affairs. Until one autumn when I came to Taipei for a business trip, before returning to Hong Kong, my friend took me to Jiufen.
The deserted Jiufen in the middle of the night is like a faded dream. The stretch of red lanterns dotted the quiet Shuqi Road with a halo of yellow, and the long and long stone steps lead all the way to the mountain city in the depths of time, where there lived Kuanmei and Wenqing who were sentimental about life leaving branches with the wind. The aesthetic seeds planted by Hou Hsiao-hsien's films back then have finally turned into real feelings. The relationship between the film and reality is like a specific situation in the past and present life that is instantly opened up. I saw Jiufen belonging to "City of Sadness".
I remember that my friend told many stories that night: the reason why he hated the Kuomintang as a native of the province, the 228 "Qingxiang" experienced by family members, and the non-party era from his father's generation to his youth... Stories and reality The borders of China have become more and more blurred, and I only remember those nightmare narratives that left me dumbfounded, all about a Taiwan I never knew.
This article is not finished. For the full text, see " Rewatching "City of Sadness" 30 times, I understand what Taiwan is "
261. Father of Political Prisoner, Daughter of Exile: Two Generations of Burmese in Pursuit of Democracy
262. Inspirational story or big scandal? How Actresses Hacked the Oscars
263. Why do they profit? Confessions of Two Chinese Youths
264. Not obsessed with organizing and storing is also a kind of separation
268. We Don’t Like Excessively Beautiful Sex: Interview with Jian Liying╳A Good-for-nothing
270. After rewatching "City of Sadness" 30 times, I understand what Taiwan is
From now on, we will continue to meet you at " World Walk Sehseh.world ". In the future, in-depth articles will only be published on the new site, and the weekly report will continue to be sent on Matters. Click the link below to subscribe to the newsletter , and don’t miss out on the exciting articles💕
Like my work? Don't forget to support and clap, let me know that you are with me on the road of creation. Keep this enthusiasm together!
