30 Films you cannot miss at the 54th Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2017 (Part 1)

By Asian Film Festival on October 29, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )

We present a list of films you cannot miss at the 54th Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2017 that will take place from November 3rd – 24th, in Taipei (Taiwan). In this first publication we share the first ten films.

Alifu, the Prince/ss by Wang Yu-lin – Taiwan | 2017 – 97 min.
Section: In Competition

Alifu, a young hairdresser from Paiwan tribe, struggles between having a sex-change surgery and inheriting his father’s title as the chief. Pei-zhen, a lesbian, is his best friend. Sherry, a trans woman, owns a drag queen bar. Chris keeps his drug use secret from his girlfriend. Between different genders and problems, the only common ground is love.

Schedule:
November 11th, 2017 | Friday | IN89 Digital Cinemax 2 | 13:20 pm

Trailer:

English Trailer HERE

All because of love by Lien Yi-chi – Taiwan | 2017 – 114 min.
Section: In Competition

When Erkan, who often gets bullied, confesses his love for Man-li, the most beautiful girl in school, her boyfriend beats Erkan up. A year later, Man-li shows up and asks Erkan to marry her and raise her unborn child. Erkan agrees without hesitation. Little does Erkan know about the problems he will face after saying yes…

Schedule:
November 20th, 2017 | Monday | IN89 Digital Cinemax 2 | 14:20 pm

Trailer:

Angels wear white by Vivian Qu – China | 2017 – 107 min.
Section: In Competition

Teenager Mia works at a seaside motel. One night she happens to witness a crime that takes place in the motel. For the fear of losing her job, she says nothing. Meanwhile, one of the victims finds that her troubles have only just begun. The two girls do not know that their fate will be re-written by each other.

Trailer:

Explosion by Chang Zheng – China | 2017 – 106 min.
Section: In Competition

Zhao Xudong is a blaster technician. When an explosion happens in the mine and kills four workers, Zhao survives. He suspects that the explosion is not an accident, and when he investigates further, two miners and the mine owner are murdered. As the body count increases, Zhao becomes the prime suspect, and he has to clear his own name…

Trailer:

Bangzi Melody by Zheng Dasheng – China | 2017 – 99 min.
Section: In Competition

1982, a village in Northern China. In midwinter, Party Secretary Wang asks villagers to prepare a classic Bangzi Opera called Beating Princess. Uncle Lu casts Zhigang as the Prince but his daughter Xiaofen wants Shuman, Mad Kui’s son, to play the role. Then in the land development project, Mad Kui and his peanut field become the centre of the dispute…

Trailer:

Beach Rats by Eliza Hittman – US | 2017 – 98 min.
Section: LGTBQ

With his father dying and his mother wanting him to find a girlfriend, Frankie escapes home by flirting with older men online. When his webcamming intensifies, he starts hooking up with guys at a nearby cruising beach. As Frankie struggles to reconcile his competing desires, his decisions leave him hurtling toward irreparable consequences.

Trailer:

Blade of Immortal by Miike Takashi – Japan | 2017 – 140 min.
Section: Midnight Express

Manji is a samurai who becomes cursed with immortality after a legendary battle. Haunted by the murder of his sister, Manji knows that only fighting evil will regain his soul. He promises to help a young girl avenge her parents killed by the swordsmen. The mission will change Manji in ways he could never imagine…

Trailer:

Condemned Practice Mode by Chi Yueh-chun – Taiwan | 2017 – 94 min.
Section: In Competition

Hsu Tzu-chiang was sentenced to death for a 1995 kidnapping and murder case despite the lack of forensic evidence. After a 16-year petition, Hsu was released with a life sentence in 2016. Director Chi has been documenting Hsu’s story since 2012. The journey brought Chi face-to-face with the shortcomings of society and inspired his investigation into the judicial system.

Schedule:
November 16th, 2017 | Thursday | IN89 Digital Cinemax 2 | 10:30 am

Trailer:

Inmates by Ma Li – China | 2017 – 287 min.
Section: In Competition

In a confined section of a psychiatric ward in Northeast China, patients of schizophrenia, mania, depression, compulsive sexual behaviour and alcohol addition receive the mandatory treatment. As soon as their heads are cleared, they try to break free but always fail. Under the control of drugs and unquestionable discipline, they begin to reflect on their souls, will, desire and thoughts.

Trailer:

King of Peking by Sam Voutas – China, US, Australia | 2017 – 88 min.
Section: Chinese Global Vision

Big Wong and his young son Little Wong are part of a fading tradition: travelling film projectionists screening movies for villagers. But when Big Wong’s ex-wife raises the alimony, Big Wong faces the possibility of losing custody. When discovering a prototype DVD recorder in a junk store, he convinces Little Wong to join a new venture – a movie bootlegging company.

Trailer: