Pai Ching-jui | 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: