The Canon / Parallax Editorial Archive
Curated by Pedro Neves, Founder of Parallax
The Time to Live and the Time to Die
童年往事
Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien
1985•2h 18m•NR•★ 7.8
Biography / Drama
Synopsis
A deeply personal, autobiographical coming-of-age chronicle tracking an immigrant boy and his family who relocated from mainland China to southern Taiwan in the 1950s, navigating street gang fights, adolescent romance, and the gradual, heartbreaking deaths of his grandmother and parents. Hou Hsiao-hsien's Berlin FIPRESCI Prize winner.
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The Time to Live and the Time to Die
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Hou Hsiao-hsien
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Cast & Crew
DirectorHou Hsiao-hsien
WriterChu Tien-WenHou Hsiao-hsien
CinematographyMark Lee Ping-Bing
MusicChang Hung-YiNg Choh-Choh
Principal Cast
Yu An-shunAh Ha / Ah Hsiao
Tien FengHou Fen Ming
Mei FangMing's Wife
Tang Ru-YunMing's Mother
Hsin Shu-FenWu Shumei
Hsiao AiHsiao's Sister
Grace Chen Shu-Fang
NS
Ng Siu-YingTechnical Specifications
Runtime2h 18m (138 mins)
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Collector Status
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Production Details
DirectorHou Hsiao-hsien
LanguagesTaiwanese, Mandarin, Hakka
CountryTW
StudioCentral Motion Picture Corporation
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