16 'Grandma-level Masterpieces' to screen free across Taiwan for Hokkien film anniversary

Public Television Service (PTS) Taigi is celebrating its seventh anniversary by launching a special Taiwanese Hokkien film festival. Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Taiwanese Hokkien cinema, the 'Taiwanese Hokkien TV Relay Film Festival' kicked off in July, offering a curated selection of 16 classic films across three distinct units: 'Classic Reenactment,' 'Changing Paths,' and 'Passing the Torch.' The festival aims to bring these cinematic treasures to a wider audience through 40 free screenings in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.

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Director Hsin Chi filmed 12 movies in one year, which made me both envious and admire him.

The 'Classic Reenactment: Taiwanese Hokkien Cinema Begins' unit delves into the golden age of Taiwanese Hokkien films from the 1960s and 1970s. It includes iconic works such as 'The First Number of Heaven,' 'The Deer Warrior,' 'The Silly Bride and the Foolish Son-in-Law,' 'Husband's Secret,' 'The Wandering Three Siblings,' 'Treasure of Tarzan,' 'Returning to Anping Port,' and 'Love in Ryukyu.' These films have undergone digital restoration by the National Film and Audiovisual Center, Taiwan, allowing them to be presented in clearer quality on the big screen and offering new generations a glimpse into the vibrant, absurd, romantic, and tear-jerking narratives of that era.

To make these classics more accessible to younger viewers, the festival has invited several celebrities to provide introductions. Director Chen Yu-hsun recalled director Hsin Chi's prolific output in 1969, remarking on his envy and admiration. He highlighted how black-and-white Taiwanese films offer insights into the entertainment and thought processes of the time. Taiwanese opera star Hsu Hsiu-nien reminisced about 'The Wandering Three Siblings,' noting that audiences would cry in theaters, emphasizing the films' emotional impact. Writer Hou Wen-yung pointed out the significance of director Lin Tuan-chiu's works, suggesting they explore class differences, social inequalities, and conflicts between marital ethics and societal civilization.

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Many people cried when they watched it back then. You must bring a handkerchief.

A charming highlight of the festival is the participation of 8-year-old internet celebrity Hong Dou Mei, who has 450,000 followers. After watching 'The Deer Warrior,' she expressed her enjoyment of seeing her grandmother's childhood movies and her aspiration to be Miss Bai He, admiring her ability to fly beautifully.

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His films are not just entertainment; they also show class differences, inequality between people, and the conflict between marital ethics and social civilization.

The festival's opening event featured a selection guide talk by Professor Wang Chun-chi, which attracted nearly a hundred film enthusiasts. PTS Taigi also commissioned director Sun Chieh-heng of 'Listening to the Sea Tide' to produce short introductory videos featuring celebrities to warm up the audience. Screenings will be held at Taipei's SPOT Huashan Cinema, Taichung's Zhongshan 73 Visual Arts Space, and Kaohsiung Film Archive. Free tickets for each day's first screening will be available 20 minutes before showtime at the service desk of each venue, on a first-come, first-served basis.

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It's interesting to see movies from my grandma's childhood. I want to be Miss Bai He because she can fly in the sky, and she's so beautiful when she flies.