Li Han-hsiang | First Impressions

We continue our discussion of the GOLDEN DECADES: CINEMATIC MASTERS OF THE GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS, with a chat on Four Moods, a portmanteau film, originally conceived as a project to raise funds for Li Han-Hsiang’s then ailing Grand Motion Picture Company in Taiwan,

The four short films that together compose FOUR MOODS are:

-First, Joy, directed by Pai Ching-Jui, a bold beginning, shot as a silent film, with diegetic music but no dialogue

-The second is King Hu’s Anger, which no doubt King Hu’s fans will rejoice at.

-Sadness, the third, is directed by “godfather of Taiwanese cinema” Li Hsing, and possibly misnamed as it’s perhaps more about self-destructive anger and vengefulness than anything else.

-Happiness, the last, and our favourite, is directed by Li Han-hsiang himself

All involve ghosts, hauntings, and desires.

A historically and culturally significant film, featuring four of the most popular and accomplished directors of the time. Fabulistic and allegorical, … And yet, the length of the podcast testifies to the limits of our understanding. The frustration of watching these films is the bounds of one’s knowledge, and we would encourage listeners who want to know more to read these excellent articles by Andrew Heskins and Hayley Scallion.

The copy kindly made available for viewing is brown and a bit murky colour-wise and does not deserve to be publicised as a restoration. The sub-titling, particularly of text within the narrative, could be improved. That said, w’re very glad to have seen it and recommend it to others.

The podcast may be listened to here:

The podcast may also be listened to on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2zWZ7Egdy6xPCwHPHlOOaT

and on itunes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/first-impressions-thinking-aloud-about-film/id1548559546

If listeners are keen to pursue these interests, we have podcasts on other films by these directors:

Morning in Taipei – https://notesonfilm1.com/2021/11/01/taiwan-film-festival-edinburgh-2021-wrap-up/

King Hu – https://notesonfilm1.com/2021/06/05/hou-hsiao-hsien-11-contexts-b-kind-hu-dragon-inn-1967-a-touch-of-zen-1971/

– Good Morning Taipei

-Storm over the Yangtze River

and last but not least:

Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh 2021 — Wrap-up

José Arroyo

We continue our discussion of the GOLDEN DECADES: CINEMATIC MASTERS OF THE GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS, with a response to Storm Over the Yantze River (Li Han-hsiang, Taiwan, 1969). It’s a historical spectacle, based on a true story, well-deploying hundreds of extras. The newly restored version looks smashing but we do wonder if you have to be Taiwanese to fully appreciate it. This story of spies, counter-spies, traitors who are heros, betrayals across sectorial lines, is difficult to follow, particularly as there are actually four groups fighting for supremacy and we, perhaps because we know so little Taiwanese history, found it difficult to tell them apart. Nonetheless, we loved the hint of camp, Li Hua Li’s performance as the powerful Mrs. Chou Chien Lu, the Bond-inspired espionage gadgetry, the look of the film and the way it was composed. Richard compares it to Operation Crossbow (Michael Anderson, 1965). The podcast may be listened to here: