The Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles partners with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) to launch a virtual Taiwanese-language film series titled "Dreaming Impossible Dreams" from May 18 to May 31, 2022. It is the first time that LACMA features Taiwanese-language films to celebrate Asian-Pacific American (AAPI) Heritage Month.
This program will screen 6 restored black and white films, including "The Husband's Secret (丈夫的秘密)," "Fantasy of the Deer Warrior (大俠梅花鹿)," "Little Heroes vs. Two Masked Villains (雙雄大鬥雙假面)," "Romance at Lungshan Temple (龍山寺之戀)," "The Best Secret Agent (天字第一號)" and "Six Suspects (六個嫌疑犯)."
The 1960s was the golden age of Taiwanese-language film production, but most reels have been lost or destroyed. In recent years, the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) began the digital restoration project. The theme of this premiere in the Western US represents Taiwanese citizens' fantasies and filmmakers' creativity during a conservative time under martial law. To lead American audiences to know more about these films from various aspects, the curators produced 6 bonus content videos with guests such as the author of "Interior Chinatown" and the 2020 National Book Award winner Charles Yu (游朝凱).
For many years, LACMA, the largest public art museum in the Western US, has provided the public program "FILM at LACMA" to introduce historical and cultural visions of multiple communities. Its weekly screening presents documentary films, artists and international showcases. For free online registration, please RSVP at https://www.lacma.org/event/film-screenings-dreaming-impossible-dreams-taiwanese-language-films-1960s.