A brighter summer day the criterion collection bluray. A brighter summer day is a 1991 taiwanese epic comingofage drama film directed by. But i have to be fair and get honest that this was still a very accomplished film. In this vast memory piece, from 1991, edward yang dramatizes the anguish of young people in taipei in 1959. The title of a brighter summer day is paraphrased from a lyric in elvis presleys are you lonesome tonight, a pivotal song representing the generational shift in taiwan in the early 1960s where teenagers are far more enraptured with western popular culture than the propaganda media being generated from china. A brighter summer day bluray disc, 2016, 2disc set. Among the most praised and soughtafter titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of taiwanese cinema, directed by edward yang is finally available for us audiences. A brighter summer day was inspired by a true incident, a touchstone from yangs youth. The film takes place in the late 50searly 60s at a time when many chinese have fled to taiwan. The 25year wait since its initial production makes its first day of official availability in the us all the brighter. Nov 25, 2011 a brighter summer day, the director edward yangs chronicle of disaffected youth in taiwan in 1960, seethes with the spirit of confused, ardent rebellion.
With a four hour runtime, this masterpiece from taiwan is almost. A brighter summer day 1991 a brighter summer day 1991. A brighter summer day sets out as a coming of age modern tale of youthful rebellion involving two sets of schoolboy street gangs that is, the 217 village gang and the little park gang in early 1960s taiwan. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, this novelistic, patiently. Chen chang,lisa yang,kuochu chang,elaine jin,chuan wang,han chang,hsiuchiung chiang,stephanie lai,chitsan wang,lawrence ko,chihkang tan,minghsin chang,chunlung jung,huikuo chou,ching. Popular videos a brighter summer day a brighter summer day topic. Opinions expressed in our articles are those of the authors and not of the film inquiry magazine. Cleaning up a brighter summer day the criterion collection. Since then, he was nominated three times at the golden horse awards, and several times for best actor at the berlinale and the cannes film festival. Its only natural that a brighter summer day begins with a shot of a barely lit. Edward yangs fifth picture is a novelistic exploration of the meanings and contradictions of taiwanese cultural identity set in 1960, and based on a true incident weighing heavily on yangs own.
But his 1991 epic a brighter summer day has traveled a much rockier path to international recognition, having been available for decades only in abridged form on lowquality home video. A brighter summer day is a 1991 taiwanese drama film directed by edward yang. Ive never read theodore dreisers an american tragedy, but edward yangs astonishing 230minute epic 1991, set over one taipei school year in the early 60s, would fully warrant the subtitle a taiwanese tragedy. A brighter summer day does what few films can, which is to show the ephemerality of people and the permanence of placesafter four hours, every classroom and courtyard, brick gymnasium and clay tennis court, feels thick with human residue. A brighter summer day is a 1991 taiwanese epic comingofage drama film directed by edward yang and is considered by most to be a masterpiece of contemporary cinema. A brighter summer day is a remarkable story, loosely based on fact, set in a nation still trying to find its way in the shadow of communist china. In his haste, the kids were given sequential birth dates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. In a brighter summer days most devastating recurring image, tunnel vision accompanies the incommunicativeness of parent and child.
Based on a true story, primarily on a conflict between two youth gangs, a 14yearold boys girlfriend conflicts with the head of one gang for an unclear reason, until finally the conflict comes to a violent climax. His swan song, yi yi 2000, was his first film to receive distribution in the u. A brighter summer day, the director edward yangs chronicle of disaffected youth in taiwan in 1960, seethes with the spirit of confused, ardent rebellion. A brighter summer day is itself in color, but it may as well be. In the latest issue of cinema scope, jonathan rosenbaum writes. As always with director edward yang, the wealth of accumulated detail contributes to the emotional satisfaction of the story. A brighter summer day is one of the best films ive ever seen. A singular achievement in the history of cinema, edward yangs 1991 masterpiece a brighter summer day is a sprawling, novelistic vision of an era. The depth of the characters is something that id cherish from this experience. A brighter summer day is a 1991 taiwanese film directed by edward yang and starring chang chen. The new yorker may earn a portion of sales from products and. Among the most praised and soughtafter titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of taiwanese cinema, directed by. The news around us is pretty bleak, but as we all band together, do our jobs, stay positive, take care of our families, our loved ones, and ourselves, we will see brighter days ahead. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing a brighter summer day near you.
Set in the early sixties in taiwan, a brighter summer day is based on the true story of a. Yang frames the film with recitations over the radio of the names of students graduating from the same school in 1960 and 61. One of the towering masterpieces of the 1990s, edward yangs breathtaking epic charts the comingofage of a teenage boy chang as he grows up amidst political turmoil, warring street gangs, and the encroaching influence of american pop culture in 1960s taiwan. A brighter summer day never drags, in no small part because it makes this very particular time and placethe stomping grounds of yangs own childhoodfeel so vivid. A brighter summer day operates on a number of levels. Edward yangs 1991 masterpiece a brighter summer day is set in taipei. But his 1991 epic a brighter summer day has traveled a much rockier path to international recognition, having been available. Sirs spiral towards tragedy never stretches credibility, because yang takes the time to let it realistically occur, showing us each factor.
Edward yangs a brighter summer day was released earlier this year by the criterion collection. Prime members enjoy free delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, tv shows, original audio series, and kindle books. The criterion collections bluray of a brighter summer day will be a welcome release for fans aware of this great filmmaker. A trailer for edward yangs 1991 film a brighter summer day. The central character is a kid named sir chen chang from the little park gang. Based from true story, primarily a conflict between two youth gangs, 14yearold young boys girlfriend conflict with the head of the gang for unclear reason, until finally there was a painfully incident. Twice in the film xiao sir and his father walk back from school with their bicycles, an image that bookends the tragic arc of the boys miseducation. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. A brighter summer day was released in 1991, is currently available for home viewing by the criterion collection. Better late than never, the masterful a brighter summer day. Never seeing a legitimate home video release in north america despite its growing stature over time, the complete 237minute version of edward yangs a brighter summer day is being released on bluray by the criterion collection, who present the film in its original aspect ratio of 1.
Go behind the scenes of our new 4k restoration of edward yangs 1991 masterpiece, now available on bluray and dvd. Some have been as bold to stick a brighter summer day with the mighty m word, a weighty label that we cant dispute given its achievement in creating more than just a masterly. Edward yangs a brighter summer day a wonderful, classic piece of cinema. Chen chang,lisa yang,kuochu chang,elaine jin,chuan wang,han chang,hsiuchiung chiang,stephanie lai,chitsan wang,lawrence ko,chihkang tan,minghsin chang,chunlung.
The taiwan portrayed in a brighter summer day is a world in limbo, a dislocated society desperately seeking to make sense of itself. Still a grand film that would maybe work better as a longer mini series. A brighter summer day is a cinematic soul search, a hulking beast of a film that can only meagerly be described as epic. Given the films extremely limited status in the united states and elsewhere before criterions bluray, its impossible to compare it with any previous discs or an. Among the most praised and soughtafter titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of taiwanese cinema, directed by edward yang, finally comes to home video in the united states. Aug 07, 2016 his swan song, yi yi 2000, was his first film to receive distribution in the u. A brighter summer day the criterion collection blu. From the poolhall headquarters of the 217 gang to the sodaclub hangout of their rivals to a local makeshift movie studio, every backdrop seems translated from the directors memories. Kurowski finished the season ranked sixth in the ncaa with an. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. The film is an extraordinarily large project for a chineselanguage film, not only for its duration of almost four hours, but also for its involvement of more than 100 amateur actors in different roles. Aug 11, 2015 based from true story, primarily a conflict between two youth gangs, 14yearold young boys girlfriend conflict with the head of the gang for unclear reason, until finally there was a painfully incident.
Set in the early sixties in taiwan, a brighter summer day is based on the true story of a crime that rocked the nation. A brighter summer day 1991 the criterion collection. A brighter summer day by edward yang chang kuoshu, elaine. A brighter summer day features no shortage of scenes shot at night or in dimlylit locales, and most of these hold up nicely with terrific shadow detail and excellent contrast. A brighter summer day is a 1991 taiwanese epic comingofage drama film directed by edward yang and is considered by most to be a masterpiece of contemporary. A brighter summer day s extended running time pays off. Mar 22, 2016 a brighter summer day is a cinematic soul search, a hulking beast of a film that can only meagerly be described as epic. This has led to many teenagers forming street gangs. Chang chen, an international renowned actor, first earned his attention at the age of 14 when he took the lead role in a brighter summer day. The resort has been reopened for the summer 2011 season. The indie film industry shares their top 10 films of 2011. Taiwanese culture is so rich and a brighter summer day sparked a bigger fire in me to long for more. Never seeing a legitimate home video release in north america despite its growing stature over time, the complete 237minute version of edward yangs a brighter summer day is being released on bluray by the criterion collection, who present the.
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