Cinema of Taiwan

Movies in Taiwan tell a story of a changing island.

They first arrived in 1901 during Japanese rule. Since then, cinema has moved through many different stages. These stages include taiyu pian, which are Taiwanese films from the 1950s. There were also wuxia pian, or sword-fighting films, in the 1960s and 1970s. Later, the New Taiwanese Cinema movement began in the 1980s. Today, documentary films about real life are also very popular. This long history helps people understand how Taiwan has grown over time.

In the early days, watching a film was a unique experience.

Because films were silent, people used a narrator called a benshi. In Taiwan, these narrators were known as piān-sū. A benshi was much more than just a voice. They were often stars who could change a movie's mood. A single romantic scene could become a comedy if the narrator was funny. Some benshi were even famous musicians or poets. They used their own styles to interpret the story for the audience.

History has shaped what filmmakers choose to show on screen. During the Japanese period, many films were made for Japanese audiences. They often showed Taiwan as a place of adventure or danger. After 1949, many new filmmakers arrived in Taiwan. For a long time, most movies were made in the Taiwanese Hokkien language. However, the government later promoted Standard Chinese in the media. This led to a decline in Taiwanese-language films by 1981. Directors like Hou Hsiao-hsien later used films to revisit these historical moments.

The government plays a big role in supporting the arts.

There is a special Film Fund to help the industry. This fund helps pay for the cost of making movies. For example, one grant helps new directors make their first feature film. These grants can be $5 million or even $800 million. The Ministry of Culture has managed these policies since 2012. This support helps filmmakers explore serious social or political issues. It ensures that new stories can always be told.

Taiwanese cinema is now famous all over the world. Many directors have gained international respect for their work. Ang Lee is one of the most well-known names. Other famous directors include Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-hsien. These creators often focus on realistic and honest stories. They show how people live in both big cities and small towns. Some films, like the documentary Life, even became huge hits at the box office. Their work connects the history of Taiwan to the modern world.