Bringing together legendary director Hou Hsiao-Hsien, renowned photographer Mark Lee Ping-Bing, master editor Liao Ching-Sung, musician Lim Giong, and actress Shu Qi, this film is a masterpiece by the golden team of the Taiwan New Wave movement. Sound designer Tu Duu-Chih was awarded the Technical Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his contribution to the film. This screening presents a digitally restored version, with the audio track sourced from Tu Duu-Chih’s original final mix. Compared to previous releases, both the color and sound are richer and more vibrant, fully restoring the film’s exquisite atmosphere as it first appeared at the turn of the millennium. It captures the pulse of Taipei at the end of the century, a city restlessly bracing itself for the arrival of the year 2000. At the time, Vicky was drawn to the wild energy of Hao-Hao yet also found herself falling for Jack’s gentle warmth, trapped in a love mambo she couldn’t escape, like a spell, like hypnosis. Maybe, if she spends the last five hundred thousand she has, she’ll find the answer. Maybe then, she can start over…

Director | HOU Hsiao-Hsien

Cast | SHU Qi, Jack KAO, TUAN Chun-Hao