The films of Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢) will greet German movie buffs in a special retrospective running at Filmmuseum Dusseldorf from May 1 through 29.
The 8 films will include classics such as "The Sandwich Man (兒子的大玩偶),” whose protagonist wears clown makeup to draw attention to the advertisement sandwich board he carries, and "The Boys From Fengkuei (風櫃來的人),” which depicts the starkness of urban life as a gang of boys come of age and leave their island hometown.
The retrospective will also offer three more lighthearted movies from Hou's earlier days as a commercial producer — "Cute Girl (就是溜溜的他),” "Cheerful Wind (風兒踢踏踩),” and "The Green, Green Grass of Home (在那河畔青草青).” Some say it was the low-budget location shooting of romance films that led Hou to first employ his characteristic long lens technique.
"A Time to Live, A Time to Die (童年往事),” the semi-autobiographical 1985 coming-of-age film that brought Hou global acclaim, will be the penultimate screening, followed by "Daughter of the Nile (尼羅河女兒),” a study on marginalized youths that will close the film series.
Film critic Holger Roemers will be on site to offer an introduction on the films and techniques of Hou before the screening of the event's opening film, "Dust in the Wind (戀戀風塵).” A reception will also be held on the opening night.
Download the German event flyer here.
‘Hou Hsiao-hsien Retrospektive'