A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

Guling jie shaonian sharen shijian (1991)

***Unable to locate VHS cover at this time.

Length of film: 237 Minutes

Rated: 15

Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime

Director: Edward Yang

Starring: Chang Chen, Lisa Yang, Kuo-Chu Chang, Elaine Jin, Chuan Wang, Han Chang, Hsiu-Chiung Chiang, Shu-Chun Ni

IMDB Rank: 8.2/10

***The Criterion Collection, splits the film at 117 minutes as Ming (Lisa Yang) sews shoes. This split happens in the middle of the film and requires the viewer to switch to a second DVD disk. A better alternative to the break (if streaming the film) would be at 151 minutes after the attack on the 217 gang clubhouse and Si’r’s discovery of a dying Shandong.

Part 1 Time: 151 Minutes

Part 2 Time: 81 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Si’r (Chang Chen) discovers Shandong (leader of the 217 gang) in the dark dying on the floor. Shenjing (Shu-Chun Ni) runs in crying holding Shandong (Alex Yang) in her arms. Si’r leaves quietly.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Shandong, Shandong!” Shenjing yells while crying.

First line of dialogue on the second part: Elder Brother (Han Chang) and Eldest Sister (Chuan Wang) sit in the kitchen table studying, while also listening to a portable turntable. Eldest Sister states “I Could swear he sings…’a brighter summer day.'”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Very jarring, the Little Park Boys attack the 217 gang’s clubhouse in retaliation for killing Honey (Lin Hong-ming). Will the members of the Little Park Boys be caught for this crime?

Which part is better? The film takes place in Taipei in 1959, focusing on a conflict between two youth gangs. Part one introduces the two gangs and the ever growing tension between them. Part two shows the aftermath of the final conflict and Si’r’s continuing attempt to grow his relationship with Ming. Part one is better as tension grows between the group and Si’r becomes more accustomed to youth gang life.

Academy Awards: None