Tsai Ming-Liang's latest film to be screened for free in Hà Nội

HÀ NỘI — Tsai Ming-Liang's latest film Wu Suo Zhu (Abiding Nowhere) will be screened at the Taiwan Film Salon 2024 to introduce Taiwanese cinema to Hanoians.

A scene in Wu Suo Zhu (Abiding Nowhere). Photo courtesy of Homegreen Films

From September 7 to 14, six films that capture the essence of contemporary Taiwanese life will be shown as part of the Taiwan Film Salon 2024 programme.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) organises the event in Việt Nam, in collaboration with the Hà Nội College of Art and the National Cinema Centre.

The most well-known film in the series is Tsai Ming-Liang's most recent experimental film, Abiding Nowhere, which has found success in numerous film festivals worldwide, including a screening at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.

This is the tenth film in the series of Walker films independently produced by director Tsai Ming-Liang since 2012.

The film is based on the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West", which is depicted as a pilgrimage from China to India in which a historical figure -- legendary monk Xuanzang -- seeks to obtain sacred Buddhist scriptures.

Yet the film employs the modern setting of Washington, D.C., turning it into a translation of Buddhist scriptures, entering a mysterious realm and demonstrating sublime virtue.

The film Marry My Dead Body featured Hsu Kuang-Han (right), the face of the new wave of Taiwanese celebrities. Photo courtesy of Calendar Studios

Another film set to be screened at the event is the Taiwanese supernatural comedy mystery film Marry My Dead Body, which is among the top ten highest-grossing films in Taiwanese cinema history.

After its premiere in Việt Nam in the latter half of 2023, the film won over young audiences as it tackles several present-day issues, including the lives of the LGBT community and intergenerational family relationships.

The movie features Hsu Kuang-Han, the face of the new wave of Taiwanese celebrities, on the big screen.

The remaining four films revolve around the themes of women, children and family and have won many awards in Taiwanese cinema.

The film Day Off, starring Taipei Golden Horse Awards winner Lu Hsiao-Fen, was inspired by the family of female director Fu Tien-Yu.

This film about family affection and human connection won the Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song Awards at the 2023 Golden Horse Awards and the Mulberry Award for Best Screenplay at the 2023 Far East Film Festival.

The film GAGA by director Laha Mebow, about a three-generation Atayal ethnic minority family, won the Golden Horse Award for Best Director and Best Supporting Actress in 2022.

Director Chin Chia-Hua's film Trouble Girl, about a child with ADHD and her mother, won the Best Actress award at the 2023 Golden Horse Awards.

Meanwhile BIG, from Director Wei Te-Sheng, follows the stories of six children with cancer. It was also nominated for Best Actress at the 5th Taiwan Film Critics Association Awards.

Free movie tickets for the 2024 Taiwan Film Salon are being distributed at TECO, 21st floor, PVI building, No. 1 Phạm Văn Bạch Street in Cầu Giấy and the National Cinema Centre at 87 Láng Hạ Street in Ba Đình, Hà Nội.

Follow the Taiwan Cultural Events in Vietnam's page for more information. — VNS