Taiwanese film Archives - No Man Is An Island

The 10 Best Taiwanese Movies of 2022

·December 28, 2022·9 min read

Discover the top Taiwanese movies of 2022 across genres like horror, romance, history, puppetry, comedy, and more—streaming links included when available Read More

Zombies in the Taiwanese Legislature?

English Film

·March 18, 2021·4 min read

Get the Hell Out is an absurdist zombie comedy that starts out well enough Read More

A Drama About a Working-Class Taiwanese Family on the Wrong Side of the Tracks

English Film

·January 7, 2023·3 min read

The rather inscrutably titled Coo-Coo 043 ( 一家子兒咕咕叫) proves a dramatic look at the lives of Taiwan’s working class, through the lens of pigeon racing. Though a bit overwrought at times, it is an effective work Read More

Review: Taiwanese Shakespeare Adaptation “As We Like It” Subverts Traditional Theatrical Gender-Bending

English Film

·March 11, 2021·5 min read

With its all-woman cast, Taiwanese movie “As We Like It” critiques the exclusion of women in Shakespearean theatre and asks audiences to consider life beyond a gender binary Read More

“Life for Sale” Offers a Stylized and Complex Exploration of Mortality

English Film

·July 26, 2022·3 min read

Life for Sale is an ambitious work. While imperfect, the film is bold, and those willing to indulge some of its more visible flaws may find the journey rewarding Read More

“Terrorizers” Pales in Comparison to its Edward Yang Namesake

English Film

·August 5, 2022·4 min read

Taking its title from Edward Yang’s 1986 masterpiece, 2021’s “Terrorizers” draws from contemporary inspirations and fails to make an equivalent impact Read More

“The Funeral” Tries Mixing Family With Thrills and Horror

English Film

·September 14, 2022·3 min read

Taiwanese horror-thriller film “The Funeral'' is more fittingly enjoyed as a family drama with scary elements Read More

“My Best Friend’s Breakfast” Teases Originality but Falls Back onto Flawed Formulae

English Film

·July 30, 2022·2 min read

2022’s top Taiwanese romance blockbuster "My Best Friend’s Breakfast" will probably appeal to genre fans, but fails to innovate enough beyond established tropes for anyone else to enjoy Read More

A Beat Ahead or Behind of the World

English Film

·July 9, 2021·3 min read

My Missing Valentine surprised in 2020 when it swept the Golden Horse Awards, Taiwan’s top film awards. The movie took home not only Best Feature Film, but also Best Original Screenplay and Best Director. The film’s two leads, Liu Kuan Ting and Patty Lee, were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, but did not win Read More

Taiwan Comedy-Drama “Mama Boy” Adequately Explores Mother-Son Relations

English Film

·August 20, 2022·3 min read

Starring Kai Ko as an awkward fish store worker, "Mama Boy" is the latest Taiwanese movie featuring the trope of overbearing mothers Read More

Diasporic Loss and Foreign Gods

English Film

·May 14, 2021·3 min read

The short film, “Kuroshio Current,” aims to tell a story of diasporic loss framed by traditional Taiwanese folk religion Read More

Review: A Sun (陽光普照)

English Film

·December 22, 2020·4 min read

Despite its release last year to much domestic acclaim, winning best film in 2019’s Golden Horse Awards, A Sun has received a new wave of critical attention internationally after making Variety’s list of best films of the year last month Read More