Cinema of Taiwan

Lore & Background

The first film was introduced to Taiwan in 1901 by Toyojirō Takamatsu. During Japanese rule, films served colonial projects of imperialization and cultural assimilation. Early films were often educational or exoticizing, and Taiwanese filmmakers adopted Japanese conventions such as the benshi (narrator), which evolved into a star system. Notable benshi masters included Wang Yung-feng, Lu Su-Shang, and Zhan Tian-Ma. From the mid-1920s through 1945, Japanese-produced films were widely circulated, and after 1937, American and Chinese films were purged due to the Second Sino-Japanese War.

After 1949, Taiwanese cinema grew as filmmakers sympathetic to the Nationalists arrived. Over a thousand Taiwanese-language films were made from 1956 to 1981, but production declined due to limited scope, waning interest, and the Nationalist government's promotion of Standard Chinese. In 1963, the Central Motion Picture Corporation introduced 'Health Realism' melodrama to build traditional moral values during rapid modernization. Genre films such as kung fu and romantic melodramas were also popular.

Documentary development began after the lifting of martial law in 1987, aided by small camcorders and government support. The 2004 documentary 'Life' about the 1999 earthquake garnered record-high box office, increasing documentary popularity. Taiwanese documentaries often explore serious social or political issues and have gained international attention.

Reader's Guide

Taiwan cinema's significance lies in its reflection of the island's complex history, from Japanese colonial rule to post-1949 Nationalist governance and democratization. The industry evolved through distinct phases: early colonial propaganda and benshi-driven exhibition, post-war Taiwanese-language films, government-sponsored 'healthy realist' and genre films, the internationally acclaimed Taiwan New Cinema of the 1980s, and a subsequent new wave. Government influence has been persistent, from official studio dominance during martial law to the contemporary Film Fund and Ministry of Culture grants. Documentaries emerged as a representative form after martial law, addressing social issues and gaining international recognition. The legacy includes a body of work that explores identity, memory, and political change, with directors like Hou Hsiao-hsien and Ang Lee achieving global prominence. The industry's trajectory illustrates the interplay between state policy, market forces, and artistic expression in a small but culturally rich film market.

Did You Know?

• The first film was introduced to Taiwan in 1901 by Toyojirō Takamatsu.
• The benshi (narrator) system in Taiwan evolved into a star system based on the Japanese model.
• Over a thousand Taiwanese-language films were made from 1956 to 1981.
• The documentary 'Life' (2004) about the 1999 earthquake garnered a record-high 30,000,000 NT at the box office.