"Detention," a school-set thriller-horror sited during Taiwan's martial law or White Terror period, was Sunday named as best narrative feature at the Taipei Film Award, the closing event of the Taipei Film Festival.
The film, adapted from a Red Candle video game, also claimed the best actress, best art design, best visual effects and best sound design awards. The jury called the film "courageous" for making a stand at this time. International and regional political relations are simmering in Asia following the coronavirus outbreak, power grabs by authoritarian leaders, and the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The jury described "Detention" as "a significant work to history and film history in Taiwan."
Last year it was the top grossing film of 2019 at the Taiwan box office and scooped five prizes at the Golden Horse Awards. It was been banned in mainland China, both for its political subject matter and because a one of Red Candle's earlier video games contained an in-game poster that appeared to make fun of Chinese president Xi Jinping.
Some of the other film sound interesting too
The Best Documentary award was given to Wu Hui-ling (吳蕙伶) on behalf of her elder sister Wu Yu-ying (吳郁瑩), who directed The Good Daughter (阿紫), a film about the staggering account of a Vietnamese immigrant who faces a dilemma in trying to support her disabled husband and her family in Vietnam.
The film focuses on the marginalized community and records the challenges people at the edge of society face, the jury said.
Lo Chen-wen (羅晨文) accepted the award for Best Short Film for directing the 16-minute In This Land We're Briefly Ghosts (幽魂之境).
Based on a true story, the movie follows 12-year-old soldier Su Su Myat and her mute brother, who are imprisoned after deserting their unit. Denied food and water, Su Su Myat is forced to choose between killing her ill brother or risking dying with him.
The film, adapted from a Red Candle video game, also claimed the best actress, best art design, best visual effects and best sound design awards. The jury called the film "courageous" for making a stand at this time. International and regional political relations are simmering in Asia following the coronavirus outbreak, power grabs by authoritarian leaders, and the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. The jury described "Detention" as "a significant work to history and film history in Taiwan."
Last year it was the top grossing film of 2019 at the Taiwan box office and scooped five prizes at the Golden Horse Awards. It was been banned in mainland China, both for its political subject matter and because a one of Red Candle's earlier video games contained an in-game poster that appeared to make fun of Chinese president Xi Jinping.
‘Detention’ Wins Top Awards at Taipei Film Festival
Politically-sensitive 'Detention' wins top awards at the Taipei Film Festival, which was one of the first to be held with live audiences.
variety.com
Some of the other film sound interesting too
The Best Documentary award was given to Wu Hui-ling (吳蕙伶) on behalf of her elder sister Wu Yu-ying (吳郁瑩), who directed The Good Daughter (阿紫), a film about the staggering account of a Vietnamese immigrant who faces a dilemma in trying to support her disabled husband and her family in Vietnam.
The film focuses on the marginalized community and records the challenges people at the edge of society face, the jury said.
Lo Chen-wen (羅晨文) accepted the award for Best Short Film for directing the 16-minute In This Land We're Briefly Ghosts (幽魂之境).
Based on a true story, the movie follows 12-year-old soldier Su Su Myat and her mute brother, who are imprisoned after deserting their unit. Denied food and water, Su Su Myat is forced to choose between killing her ill brother or risking dying with him.
‘Detention’ wins big at Taipei Film Awards - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com