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He was born in 1947 in Guangdong Province, China, and moved with his family to Taiwan the
following year. In 1972, after graduating from the Film and Performing Arts Department of
National Taiwan Arts Academy he entered the world of cinema. His debut film was CUTE GIRL
in 1980. He garnered attention for his compositional skills in 1983’s THE SANDWICH MAN and it
was from that time that he became known as a leading light of the 'Taiwan New Wave'.
THE BOYS FROM FENGKUEI in 1983 and A SUMMER AT GRANDPA’S in 1984 earned him the
Golden Montgolfiere at the Nantes Three Continents Festival two years in a row, and he be-
came a director of global renown. In 1985 THE TIME TO LIVE AND THE TIME TO DIE won the
Berlin-Forum FIPRESCI Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 1989 CITY OF SADNESS
based on the story of the incident of '28 February 1947', a subject previously taboo in Taiwan,
was awarded the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, and became the first Chinese language
film to be an international hit. Since then, Hou has gone on to complete the so-called Taiwan
modern trilogy of films with THE PUPPETMASTER in 1993, which won the Jury Prize at the Can-
nes Film Festival, and GOOD MEN, GOOD WOMEN in 1995. With GOOD MEN, GOOD WOMEN,
GOODBYE SOUTH, GOODBYE and FLOWERS OF SHANGHAI all being selected for entry into
competition at Cannes, MILLENNIUM MAMBO receiving the Prix du Jury at Cannes and CAFÉ
LUMIERE being selected for the Venice Film Festival of 2003; Hou’s works are always eagerly
anticipated and continue to be highly acclaimed. |
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