| Cheerful Wind | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Hou Hsiao-hsien |
| Written by | Hou Hsiao-hsien |
| Release date |
|
| Country | Taiwan |
| Language | Mandarin |
Cheerful Wind (風兒踢踏踩, Feng er ti ta cai) is a 1981 Taiwanese film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. It is Hou's second film. The film is also known as Play While You Play.
Plot
The plot revolves around the romance between a blind man and a photographer.
Cast
- Kenny Bee
- Fei Fei Feng
Release
The film was released for the 1982 Lunar New Year.
Reception
The film was restored in 2018 and presented as follows: "Although largely crafted within the constraints of commercial genre sensibilities, the film employs a narrative approach that offers a reflection of the society of the time. Even in this early work, sketches of Hou’s signature themes can be gleaned, such as his explorations of Taiwan’s urban-rural divide and the complexities of modern love." A similar assessment can be found in various other reviews:"Acclaimed Taiwanese director Hsiao-Hsien Hou’s second feature film Cheerful Wind is a touch more accessible and a good deal lighter-hearted than the latter fare which would win him accolades and adulation in equal measure. Nonetheless, this off-kilter romcom contains clear traces of his fingerprints, from the artfully framed shots, bright colours and bouncy soundtrack, to the quirky characters and unexpected plot curvature." The first sequence, for example, is seen as a film within the film, that would characterise later Hou films. The film is also noted as an example of new trends in the Taiwanese cinema of the 1980s, with a stronger presence of youth and pop culture.
References
- Lee, Daw-Ming (2012-11-08). Historical Dictionary of Taiwan Cinema. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7922-5.
- Virone, Oriana (2020-07-06). "Film Review: Cheerful Wind (1982) by Hou Hsiao-hsien". Asian Movie Pulse. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- "Restored: Cheerful Wind (風兒踢踏踩) (1982)". Asian Film Archive. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- "The Wee Review". theweereview.com. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- Lupke, Christopher (2016-03-25). The Sinophone Cinema of Hou Hsiao-hsien: Culture, Style, Voice, and Motion. Cambria Press. ISBN 978-1-62196-706-4.
- Tweedie, James (2013-08-01). The Age of New Waves: Art Cinema and the Staging of Globalization. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-934430-7.
External links
| Films directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien | |
|---|---|
| |
| Segments in anthology films |
|
 | This 1980s drama film–related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
 | This article about a Taiwanese film is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |