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Trailer

A City of Sadness

1989Movie2 h 38 minNR

DramaHistory
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.7Letterboxd4.1/5Rotten Tomatoes100%90%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about history and politics, with standout world-building and characters.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Story

The story of a family embroiled in the "White Terror," the Kuomintang government's anti-communist political repression that was wrought on the Taiwanese people from 1947-1987.

Feels like

  • Taiwanese History
  • Political Repression
  • Family Saga
  • Melancholy Atmosphere
  • White Terror
  • Historical Drama
  • Complex Narrative
  • Thought-Provoking

Cast

13 of 13

Crew

Directed by
Hou Hsiao-hsien
Written by
Wu Nien-jen, Chu Tien-Wen
Produced by
Yau Fook-Sang
Music by
Tu Duu-chih, Ching-an Yang

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 21, 1989 · 2 h 38 min · NR

Released
October 21, 1989
Runtime
2 h 38 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, History
Original language
Chinese
Also spoken
cn, Japanese
Made in
Hong Kong SAR China, Taiwan

Tropes

Shell-Shocked Veteran, Day of the Jackboot, Voiceover Letter +9

  • Shell-Shocked Veteran
  • Day of the Jackboot
  • Voiceover Letter
  • In the Back
  • Motifs
  • Downer Ending
  • It Always Rains at Funerals
  • Birth-Death Juxtaposition
  • Battle Discretion Shot
  • Leave the Camera Running
  • Torches and Pitchforks
  • Suspiciously Specific Denial

12 of 17 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Is A City of Sadness worth watching?"

Questions about A City of Sadness

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is A City of Sadness worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 7.7, Letterboxd 4.1 out of 5, and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (83).

Will I feel good after watching A City of Sadness?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Is A City of Sadness plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Is A City of Sadness in English?

ChinesecnJapanese

No, it was made in Chinese, with some cn and Japanese.