Hou Hsiao-hsien’s MILLENNIUM MAMBO in 35mm

Taiwan/France | 2001 | 105 minutes | 35mm | Mandarin with English Subtitles

Vicky (Shu Qi, THE ASSASSIN) finds relief in the bright lights and designer drugs of the Taipei club scene, then returns to the cluttered apartment she shares with her abusive, good-for-nothing boyfriend Hao-hao (Tuan Chun-hao). A hard-edged but sensitive gangster (Jack Kao) holds out the possibility of a more lasting escape, but Vicky must first break free of the inertia confining her. With MILLENNIUM MAMBO, Hou Hsiao-hsien kicks off the 21st century as only he can, delivering a reflective, neon-drenched mood piece that captures the excitement and ennui of contemporary urban life.
35mm print courtesy of the Center for Moving Image Arts, Bard College
This screening is part of “Reality in Long Shots,” a retrospective of works by the pioneering Taiwanese writer-director Hou Hsiao-Hsien presented by Austin Asian American Film Festival and Austin Film Society. This event is made possible by the Ministry of Culture – Taiwan’s Spotlight Taiwan grant, with assistance from the Taiwan Academy of Houston. More information is available at https://www.austinfilm.org/series/reality-in-long-shots-a-hou-hsiao-hsien-retrospective/