The year is 1945. The second world war has ended and so has Japan’s rule of Taiwan. But peace is short-lived because with a new regime comes new turmoil. The four sons of the Lin family have become unwitting witnesses to history through their own life stories. Wen-hsiung, the eldest son, supports his young family with a fledgling business. Wen-lung, the second brother, has not returned from the frontlines while the third brother Wen-liang survived the war, only to be severely traumatised. The youngest son, Wen-ching, is a photographer who became deaf-mute since he was small. Even though he could have lived a quaint life with his best friend’s sister Hiromi, Wen-ching is compelled to join the resistance against political tyranny.

A City of Sadness is the first Taiwanese film to touch upon the February 28 Incident—a taboo subject at the time of its release. The film caused a sensation in world cinema at the time and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

The screening at M+ Cinema will be the latest 4K digital version.

Hou Hsiao-hsien (b. 1947, Guangdong) moved to Taiwan with his family soon after he was born. After completing his military service, he studied filmmaking at university. In 1973, Hou entered the film industry, serving as assistant director and in other positions. He made his directorial debut with Loveable You in 1981. Hou’s string of critical successes, including The Boys from Fengkuei (1983), A Time to Live, A Time to Die (1985), and Dust in the Wind (1986), made him one of the most notable names in New Taiwanese Cinema. The award-winning A City of Sadness (1989) and The Puppetmaster (1993) cemented his status as a leading figure in world cinema. Hou’s most recent film, The Assassin (2015), has also garnered awards at film festivals such as Cannes and Golden Horse Awards.