Taiwan has been the setting for everything from family dramas to coming-of-age stories and historical epics. Some movies explore the big city of Taipei, along with its busy streets and nightlife, while others focus on rural villages, remote mountain areas, and isolated farming communities. They also span different periods in the country’s long and complicated history, with some depicting the major changes Taiwan experienced in the 20th century. These movies don’t just provide one or two scenes in Taiwan; they make the country’s landscapes, culture, and history an important part of the story.
A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
Edward Yang’s drama takes place in Taipei during the early 1960s, when Taiwan was under martial law. The country was trying to cope with large numbers of people arriving from mainland China after the Chinese Civil War. The story follows a teenage boy whose life is consumed by gangs and violence, while managing to find romance in the midst of it all. Much of the movie is authentic to Taipei in the ‘60s, depicting the neighborhoods, schools, and streets during this difficult period. Taiwan’s changing identity informs the characters the whole way through. This movie shows audiences a lot about that particular period of Taiwanese history.
Yi Yi (2000)
Also directed by Edward Yang, Yi Yi offers a much more modern picture of Taipei. It follows three generations of a middle-class family as they deal with daily life, from marriage problems and career challenges to first love, aging, and death. Taipei isn’t just scenery; its apartments, restaurants, offices, schools, and bustling streets help create every part of the story. The movie shows the contrast between traditional expectations and Taiwan’s modern lifestyle. It is an intimate look at Taiwanese life at the turn of the 21st century.
Taipei Story (1985)
As the title suggests, Taipei is a major piece of this Edward Yang film. The movie tells the story of a couple struggling with their relationship in the ‘80s. As they figure out how to cope, the city around them modernizes. Two ways of life merge as new office buildings and businesses sit right next to older neighborhoods with their traditional ways of life. The changing city is a strong metaphor for the main characters who aren’t entirely sure where they fit in Taiwan’s future.
Millennium Mambo (2001)
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Millennium Mambo shows a completely different side of Taipei. The movie follows a young lady named Vicky who lives in the city around the year 2000. She seems to be endlessly drifting through nightlife, relationships, clubs, and dead-end jobs. Her life is full of neon lights, cramped apartments, smoky clubs, and late-night streets, all of which give the movie a surreal atmosphere. It shows what Taipei felt like to young people at the turn of the millennium. It stands as a time capsule of Taipei nightlife in the early 2000s.
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)
Ang Lee’s family comedy-drama is a must-see for foodies. It centers on a widowed chef living in Taipei with his three adult daughters. Food plays a major role, with elaborate Taiwanese and Chinese meals becoming a form of communication among family members who struggle to talk about their feelings. The movie also includes plenty of shots of Taipei and the changing youth culture. Traditional expectations come head-to-head with modern careers, romance, newfound religions, and independence. This movie is heartwarming and will likely make you hungry for a home-cooked Taiwanese dinner.
Dust in the Wind (1986)
This quiet drama follows two young people who leave their rural village and head to Taipei looking for work. Their venture highlights the numerous lifestyle differences between Taiwan’s countryside and its rapidly progressing capital. Audiences see trains, mountains, small villages, crowded streets, and tiny apartments. All this imagery becomes an important part of the story in its own way. The movie also reveals the social changes sweeping Taiwan during the period. This is a great option for anyone who wants to see the non-city version of Taiwan.
A City of Sadness (1989)
A City of Sadness explores one of the darkest eras in Taiwanese history. It takes place around the end of Japanese rule and the start of the Kuomintang government. A family is unintentionally caught up in the political turmoil surrounding the 1947 February 28 Incident. The movie was groundbreaking for even depicting the period before and during the White Terror, as it had long been an extremely sensitive subject for the country. The film gives viewers a glimpse of historic towns, mountains, homes, and coastal landscapes. They all give the story a strong sense of place. This might be the most important movie about Taiwan’s history.
Blue Gate Crossing (2002)
This coming-of-age movie offers a lighter look at life in Taipei than many of the others on this list. It focuses on high school students dealing with normal adolescent stuff like friendship, crushes, sexuality, and the awkwardness of figuring out who they are. We see the characters biking through Taipei and spending time around swimming pools, school grounds, city streets, and neighborhoods. The movie has a very youthful quality, capturing the everyday experience of Taiwanese teenagers. It is a great choice if you want Taiwanese culture without heavy content and themes.