THE RICE DUMPLING VENDORS

燒肉粽 | Xin Qi | 1969 | 84 mins

In a film originally called “The Underwear Scandal,” a jealous husband throws his wife out after finding a man’s boxer shorts in her bed. Of course, she is blameless, but will he ever find out? And how will he fend for his children now that his mistress has swindled him out of his money? A cautionary tale of moral crisis amongst the nouveau riche.

丈夫的秘密 | Lin Tuan-qiu | 1960 | 102 mins

Childless Tshui-Bi tried to help her single mother friend Le-Hun. What she doesn’t know is that her husband used to be Le-Hun’s boyfriend. When the two former lovers meet again, they get involved again and Le-Hun becomes pregnant. Tshui-Bi’s reaction when she finds out the truth is unexpected. Adapted from a Japanese novel, Lin’s film focuses on women and defies patriarchal moralizing. The only Taiwanese film to make the Hong Kong Film Critics Society list of the top two hundred Chinese-language films, it was praised for its Orson Welles-like use of depth of field shots and long takes.

MAY 13TH, NIGHT OF SORROW

五月十三傷心夜 | Lin Tuan-qiu | 1965 | 97 mins

Two sisters fall in love with the same man. The eldest sings in a nightclub to support the youngest, who is embarrassed by her sister’s profession. At the nightclub, she is harassed by a lascivious businessman, whose jealous mistress also blames her. Steamy passions result in murder amidst the jazzy nightlife atmosphere. Surprisingly, perhaps, despite all the odds stacked against them, director Lin Tuan-qiu places his faith in female solidarity.

This event and tour are a collaboration between the Cultural Divsision of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, Taiwan Film Institute, and Kings College London. For more information, visit Taiyupian.uk