The Taipei Cultural Center, in collaboration with Anthology Film Archives, presents a series of films titled "The Film of Hsin Chi (辛奇)" from Nov. 17 to 30, streaming on Vimeo free of charge.
The series showcases five films directed by Hsin Chi from 1965 to 1969, including "The Bride Who Has Returned From Hell (地獄新娘)," "Encounter At The Station (難忘的車站)," "Foolish Bride, Naïve Bridegroom (三八新娘憨子婿)," "Dangerous Youth (危險的青春)," and "The Rice Dumpling Vendors (燒肉粽)." These films incorporate elements of horror thrillers, family dramas, romantic comedies, and social critiques, reflecting the thematic diversity of cinema from the era.
"The Bride Who Has Returned From Hell" integrate modern elements such as suspense and murder, and reflects a feudal context. "Encounter At The Station" not only boasts a well-executed narrative, a gripping storyline, and strong emotions, but also reshapes its characters to adapt to its form of visual storytelling, placing it at the pinnacle of the Taiwanese-language family melodrama genre.
"Foolish Bride, Naïve Bridegroom" is about a naïve, dopey young man who is aggressively chased by the women in his town, all of whom are strangely enamored with him. "Dangerous Youth" is about a deliveryman living in a cheap apartment, dreams of making it big one day. "The Rice Dumpling Vendors" depicts a powerful male figure losing his status before eventually turning his fortunes around.
According to the Taipei Cultural Center, the 1950s are known as the glory days for Taiwanese-language films. An average of over 100 Taiwanese-language films were released in Taiwan every year, and the country was recognized by UNESCO as producing the third most films in that era, behind only Japan and India. In presenting these films, the Taipei Cultural Center and Anthology Film Archives hope to help rebuild the post-war cultural history of Taiwan.
Anthology Film Archives was founded in 1970 by Jonas Mekas, with a special focus on independent, experimental, and avant-garde cinema. Anthology Films Archives screens more than 900 programs annually and preserves more than 800 films.