ASIA

There are few words fit to describe Blue Island (憂鬱之島), apart from “masterpiece.” The film stands out as an example of its genre, while also managing to be highly powerful and personal.

A Review of "Singing in the Wilderness" written in collaboration with Cinema Escapist, as part of coverage of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Keep an eye out for more!

FOR A WEEK she stood inside a room at the Taichung train station. There was something quietly defiant about her stance, left foot crossed over her right, the weight of her body slightly on the back foot, as if she were just about to take a small step forward.

There are 18.6 million people in Malawi. Many of them are subject to some sort of initiation ceremony. These ceremonies are religiously followed and form the basis of a version of cultural survival.

From buzzy soap operas and historical dramas to award-winning films, programming centered on Taiwan continues to proliferate across Netflix. The latest entry: an episode of “Midnight Asia,” a six-part docuseries by InFocus Asia celebrating the diverse nightlife found in Asian metropolises, such as Seoul, Mumbai, Tokyo, Manila and Bangkok.

At a time in which it is debated what should be done with symbols dating from the authoritarian period, the KMT proposes to bring these symbols into the digital age–with a dash of the party’s continual cringeworthy attempts to appeal to young people.

New Bloom members Peter Freestone and Brian Hioe pick some of their favorite indie albums from 2021, focusing on bands from Taiwan. ​This is the fourth in a series of Best Album lists compiled by New Bloom.

Rounding Up the Year in Taiwanese Film with New Bloom and Cinema Escapist

Brian Hioe spoke to Levin Lo, or DJ Rainbowchild, a veteran of the queer party scene in Taiwan. Among other things, Rainbowchild was the DJ that played at the wedding banquet party that celebrated the legalization of gay marriage in Taiwan in May 2019, as the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage.

Some anchor or host might ask, in tense, worried tones, about what people are thinking or feeling on the ground in Taiwan, and I’m just like, “Uhhhhhhh, people are calm. Nobody is freaking out. Life goes on.”

A Review of Episodes One and Two of Gold Leaf (茶金)

The design of the sneakers suggests not having actually spoken to Taiwanese local voices about the symbolism.

The Nanshan Public Cemetery in Tainan is the largest of its kind in Taiwan. The graveyard spans the entire history of Han settlement in Taiwan and includes within its premises the oldest known Han grave in Taiwan.