The young hoodlums of Brighter Summer's Day 25 years on, and it's not a pretty sight. Contemporary Taiwan also comes in for a kicking. But for some there is, mercifully, a tiny bit of light at the end of this particular tunnel. I like Yang's work as much for its imperfections as for what he gets so right.
Certainly the worst of Yang's films I've seen, mostly let down by some less-than-stellar acting from the English speaking parts of the cast, but his sense of cinematic rhythm and human understanding is still unparalleled.