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A Time to Live and a Time to Die
A Time to Live and a Time to Die
8.4
/10
1,167 Ratings

A TIME TO LIVE AND A TIME TO DIE

童年往事 | Tóngnián wangshì

Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien
Taiwan, 1985
Drama, Biography

Synopsis

When a family makes the move from China’s mainland to Taiwan, the elder members struggle to adapt in their new environment while Ah-Ha, a young boy, gradually reaches maturity. The generation gap grows fearsomely wide, threatening to alienate the young man from his family and their traditions.

Synopsis

When a family makes the move from China’s mainland to Taiwan, the elder members struggle to adapt in their new environment while Ah-Ha, a young boy, gradually reaches maturity. The generation gap grows fearsomely wide, threatening to alienate the young man from his family and their traditions.

Our take

Semi-autobiographical and spanning two decades, this early masterpiece from Hou Hsiao-hsien perfectly combines the historical drama and the coming-of-age story. A superb family saga, the film was an early international success for the filmmaker, winning the FIPRESCI prize at the 1986 Berlinale.