The Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, in collaboration with the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), presents “The Films of Edward Yang.” This showcase will feature five of Yang's masterpieces at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian Theater, running from April 1 to 18, 2024. The lineup includes "A Confucian Confusion," "Mahjong," "Taipei Story," "A Brighter Summer Day," and "Yi Yi," the acclaimed film that earned Yang the Cannes Best Director Award.
Edward Yang's "A Confucian Confusion" is the first work of the "New Taipei Trilogy," debuted in 1994. It mocks the cultural and moral disorder of Taiwanese society amidst the backdrop of a so-called free and open-capitalized environment. The film offers a ludicrous and comic lens into the struggles of urban dwellers navigating bewilderment, growth, and independence in a rapidly evolving modern world. The second work, "Mahjong" (1996) delves into the vacuity and disorientation prevalent in metropolitan Taipei against the backdrop of post-colonial globalization. In 2000, Edward Yang's final masterpiece, "Yi Yi," emerged as a posthumous revelation. This film portrays the intricacies of a middle-class extended family that reflects society’s collective experiences, while also displaying their condition of confusion and desire for a solution.
Apart from the "New Taipei Trilogy," two other films are screened, namely the well-known epic "A Brighter Summer Day" (1991) and "Taipei Story" (1985), which delve into the contrast between traditional and contemporary perspectives in society. Experience the brilliance of Edward Yang's cinema like never before with this new 4K restoration, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in his profound narratives on the large screen.
The Taiwan Academy highlighted that the Seattle International Film Festival brings together cinema enthusiasts by organizing a range of themed film screenings in its theaters throughout the year, in addition to hosting the once-a-year international film festival. Featuring films by director Edward Yang is expected to attract a diverse audience, fostering greater interest in Taiwanese cinema within the industry and expanding viewers' understanding of its cinematic landscape.
Along with Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Edward Yang established himself as one of the forerunners of "Taiwanese New Wave Cinema" in the 1980s, thanks to his singular style of visual expression and his nuanced portrayal of love tales and personal struggles during Taiwan's economic boom period.
For more information about “The Films of Edward Yang,” please visit https://www.siff.net/programs-and-events/the-films-of-edward-yang