The Puppetmaster (Chinese: 戲夢人生) achieves a rare artistic balance (between a straightforward narrative, captivating confessionary monologues of the main character in the documentary style and striking visuals marked by beautiful chiaroscuros and aesthetic camerawork) over 142 minutes. It doesn’t disappoint in giving a personal Taiwanese perspective on modernization of Taiwan and the wartime period and the film remains surprisingly down-to-earth and deeply humane despite its exoticism and an exceptional scope suggested by the original title.