For people who are interested in the historical background of this movie: It is during the sino-soviet split in the last century and America has shaken its hardline support for the KMT nationalist forces in favor of a more patient approach. It was huge for anyone who is still within the nationalist system and lost their hope of ever reconquering the mainland China. And meanwhile there was also some political purges inside of KMT that occurred during that period because Chiang Kai-Shek wanted to consolidate his power, which eventually played an important influence on the characters' fates in the movie. The premise can be viewed as tiny window towards the entire society of Taiwan during the 1960s, or can be a discussion of the fragility of an individual person's life during times of unrest. Either way it is saturated with the different emotions of growth, pain, confusion, frustration and a lingering shade of hopelessness, and the beauty of it truly shines through at the height of these characters' struggles.
It's worth noting that Yang initially pursued a career in engineering, studying electrical engineering in the US and dedicating seven years to software development for microprocessors. He filmed his debut movie at the age of 35. Despite this technical background, he emerged as one of the standout directors of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside the internationally acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend watching all eight of Yang's films, including "In Our Time" (1982), "That Day, on the Beach" (1983), "Taipei Story" (1985), "Terrorizers" (1986), "A Brighter Summer Day" (1991), "A Confucian Confusion" (1994), "Mahjong" (1996), and "Yi Yi / A One and A Two" (2000), all of which have digitally restored.
Stu. I also used the pandemic to my advantage and finally watched this film for the first time, and I was truly speechless. My heart was both so full, and broken in two. And these goosebumps have yet to subside. You’ve summed up my thoughts perfectly in your video, and I legit think I will watch it again tomorrow. Thank you for this! Have absolutely subscribed.
Oh my God! I can't believe you mentioned the Letterbox list. I was researching ever film from this list and trying to find in on the MUBI search engine
Your comment about the lighting in certain shots is spot on! I once showed a friend a still from the film - the one where Ming and Sri are sitting by a tree one afternoon - and my friend said she was instantly hit with a rush of nostalgia just by looking at the still. It's almost hypnotic how easily the film immerses you in its world!
Have you heard of Threads (1984)? It's genuinely the scariest film I've ever seen. I never want to watch it again. It's a BBC film which realistically depicts the long-term effects of a nuclear holocaust on society over the course of hours, days, weeks, months and years. It has some powerful and disturbing imagery and it will leave you feeling horrible and shaken. It makes me pray that a nuclear war will never happen. Aside from that...it's a masterpiece!
Something I noticed about Brighter Summer Day and Yi Yi. Edward Yang likes to put an object which is a surrogate for the movie director. In Yi Yi, the "movie director" is the camera. And in "Brighter Summer Day", it's the torch. The torch is the teenager's sense of adventure and discovery. And when it gets stubbed out ....
@@sieteocho omg, soo aptly put! I was in absolute awe after watching Yi Yi. Yes, I had to read some good reviews to fully grasp the entirity of the beauty kf the film, but hey that's what brought me to this channel too, after watching A Brighter Summer Day. Throughout the movie, I kept wondering the significance of the torch and you've expanded on that correctly.
Yi Yi! I actually never ended up reviewing that one, but I think I liked it even more than A Brighter Summer Day! It’s stunning so if you’re after more Yang goodness definitely check it out!
I love this movie and have been begging criterion to release this restoration for over a decade. Having said that, criterion used to do more epic slips, you could say they were booklets. This one isn’t impressive but I guess most supplements today are digital. I still like having a physical thing to read
I was definitely expecting the end of film Si'r damage something but to be honest unexpectedly it was not Ming. So remembered the love exactly can be really dangerous.. Btw thanks for the ideas..
For people who are interested in the historical background of this movie:
It is during the sino-soviet split in the last century and America has shaken its hardline support for the KMT nationalist forces in favor of a more patient approach. It was huge for anyone who is still within the nationalist system and lost their hope of ever reconquering the mainland China. And meanwhile there was also some political purges inside of KMT that occurred during that period because Chiang Kai-Shek wanted to consolidate his power, which eventually played an important influence on the characters' fates in the movie.
The premise can be viewed as tiny window towards the entire society of Taiwan during the 1960s, or can be a discussion of the fragility of an individual person's life during times of unrest. Either way it is saturated with the different emotions of growth, pain, confusion, frustration and a lingering shade of hopelessness, and the beauty of it truly shines through at the height of these characters' struggles.
Thank you for speaking about this in its own video. We need more people speaking about this masterpiece.
My biggest mistake was not watching this when it came out. This is by far one of my favorite movies of all time.
Facts
It's worth noting that Yang initially pursued a career in engineering, studying electrical engineering in the US and dedicating seven years to software development for microprocessors. He filmed his debut movie at the age of 35. Despite this technical background, he emerged as one of the standout directors of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside the internationally acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend watching all eight of Yang's films, including "In Our Time" (1982), "That Day, on the Beach" (1983), "Taipei Story" (1985), "Terrorizers" (1986), "A Brighter Summer Day" (1991), "A Confucian Confusion" (1994), "Mahjong" (1996), and "Yi Yi / A One and A Two" (2000), all of which have digitally restored.
Stu. I also used the pandemic to my advantage and finally watched this film for the first time, and I was truly speechless. My heart was both so full, and broken in two. And these goosebumps have yet to subside. You’ve summed up my thoughts perfectly in your video, and I legit think I will watch it again tomorrow. Thank you for this! Have absolutely subscribed.
Oh my God! I can't believe you mentioned the Letterbox list. I was researching ever film from this list and trying to find in on the MUBI search engine
I just watched it last night and im speechless, i am probably gonna watch it again sometime soon cause for the first 2 hours i had no idea who who was
Your comment about the lighting in certain shots is spot on! I once showed a friend a still from the film - the one where Ming and Sri are sitting by a tree one afternoon - and my friend said she was instantly hit with a rush of nostalgia just by looking at the still. It's almost hypnotic how easily the film immerses you in its world!
Amazing film. The ending killed me. It's an intimate epic.
Amen - absolutely gorgeous film
Have you heard of Threads (1984)? It's genuinely the scariest film I've ever seen. I never want to watch it again.
It's a BBC film which realistically depicts the long-term effects of a nuclear holocaust on society over the course of hours, days, weeks, months and years. It has some powerful and disturbing imagery and it will leave you feeling horrible and shaken. It makes me pray that a nuclear war will never happen.
Aside from that...it's a masterpiece!
That sounds... haunting...
@@StuTalks Haunting to say the very least.
that cover art is 👌 definitely need a poster of it
I need it all over my walls
good review! i also loved ABSD on my first viewing, looking forward to revisit it some day.
Be sure not to miss Yang's " Terrorizers", one of my favorite among his works, second only to "A Brighter Summer Day".
Really excited to check it out!!
watched it in 2017 along with City of God(2002) , till this day ,greatest weekend i spent on movie ever
That is an INCREDIBLE double bill
@@StuTalks hoping 4 similar suggestion from u, great review by the way
Yi yi and mahjong are brilliant as well. Yi yi being Edward's best known work.
Watched Yi Yi recently and absolutely fell in love! Will have to check out Mahjong next
Something I noticed about Brighter Summer Day and Yi Yi. Edward Yang likes to put an object which is a surrogate for the movie director. In Yi Yi, the "movie director" is the camera. And in "Brighter Summer Day", it's the torch. The torch is the teenager's sense of adventure and discovery. And when it gets stubbed out ....
It’s those touches that just *chef’s kiss*
@@sieteocho omg, soo aptly put! I was in absolute awe after watching Yi Yi. Yes, I had to read some good reviews to fully grasp the entirity of the beauty kf the film, but hey that's what brought me to this channel too, after watching A Brighter Summer Day. Throughout the movie, I kept wondering the significance of the torch and you've expanded on that correctly.
The original title actually spoiled the film
I've been intimidated of this film for almost 20 years lol I think I'll watch it tonight finally
Did you watch it?!!
what was the other edward yang movie you bought? is there a review of that one?
Yi Yi! I actually never ended up reviewing that one, but I think I liked it even more than A Brighter Summer Day! It’s stunning so if you’re after more Yang goodness definitely check it out!
@@StuTalksplease review Yi Yi when you have a chance
Hey man. Good review, keep it up with the chanel. You will find your audience eventually,.
Thanks man! Cheers for watching!
I just finished it. Such a beautiful movie
This is refreshing
Esta película es tan desconocido y tan hermosa. Desearía que todos la conocieran pero solamente que yo sepa de su existencia
love you
Keep going
I love this movie and have been begging criterion to release this restoration for over a decade. Having said that, criterion used to do more epic slips, you could say they were booklets. This one isn’t impressive but I guess most supplements today are digital. I still like having a physical thing to read
I was definitely expecting the end of film Si'r damage something but to be honest unexpectedly it was not Ming. So remembered the love exactly can be really dangerous.. Btw thanks for the ideas..
No, males are dangerous
i can't believe there are still people who also talk this topic