Influenced by the New Wave films in the West, the DIY practices of film clubs, and a dynamic experimentalism among the leftist youth, the 1960s saw the emergence of an alternative cinephilia in both Taiwan and Hong Kong. Curated by Sine Screen in collaboration with the Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival, this programme presents a selection of essential avant-garde films made during that period.

Modern Poetry Exhibition
Chang Chao-tang, 1966, 12 min

Artists contributing to the 1966 Modern Poetry Exhibition included Huang Hua-cheng, Long Sih-liang, Huang Yong-song, and Chang Chao-tang; each artist chose their favourite modern poems and transformed them into imagery. This film is a time capsule capturing some of the exhibits, as well as the young artists.

Getting Ready for the Festival
Long Sih-liang, 1967, 5 min

In these freckled, disjointed montages of everyday life, we see a faint hint of an upcoming festival as the theatre troupe sound its drums; the children either sit and gaze, or clamber to see the lead actress. This 8mm roll of film was found after Long Sih-liang passed away in 2012 and is now shown for the first time in 51 years.

Routine
Law Kar, 1969, 19 min

This film documents a short trip from Star Ferry’s taxi stand to the office of Chinese Student Weekly in Kowloon Tong. It shows the street scenes of Hong Kong in 1968 and the state of mind of a Hong Kong young man after the 1967 Riot.

Alienation
Chiu Kang-chien, 1966, 6 min

Caterpillar crawling on the wall, a seemingly masturbating naked man, a weird car accident, poetic captions, ending with 11 stills of people posing like crucifixion. Rumour has it that a priest in Cardinal Tien Cultural Centre concerned about the image of masturbation and cancelled the participation of this film in the 1966 “Theatre Quarterly’s” film exhibition. The stills, script and notes, however, were published in the fifth edition of Theatre Quarterly and thus became a legend. This is the first time that the film will be screened after it has been considered lost for 52 years.

Liu Pi-chia
Richard Yao-chi Chen, 1967, 27 min

Featuring a middle-aged veteran living in Hualien County, the film is a realistic and powerful portrayal of his simple daily life. It is a film about ordinary people at an unordinary historical moment. The power of the film resides in its attempt to represent the subjects the way they are and to leave the task of interpretation to the viewers.

The Mountain
Richard Yao-chi Chen, 1966, 19 min

The director follows three art college students Huang Yong-song, Mou Tun-fei, and Huang Gui-rong as they enjoy an excursion into the mountains. As the song California Dreamin’ plays, the three talk about their artistic ideals, how only KMT party members were eligible for scholarships, and their view on the Vietnam War.

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This screening is part of Sine Screen's ongoing 'Vulnerable Histories' season 2024-25. With thanks to TIDF, Jessie Yang, the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) and Wanying Tsai.