All corners of the world

Before Tsai acquired international recognition with Rebels of the Neon God he made television films, of which the best two are being screened in Rotterdam. They may not be as subtle as Rebels, but both films are impressive and moving. The show Tsai’s great empathy with the poor and criminal sub¡culture of Taipei. On Taiwanese television, where most pictu¡res are spotless and convincingly ‘positive’, these films must have made an overwhelming impression.All Corners of the World tells of the vicissitudes of the Chang family, which lives in the red-light district of Taipei. The parents work as cleaners in a love hotel and send their two teenage children out to earn something on the side. They buy up all the cinema tickets of films that are popular at the time – such as A City of Sadness – and sell them at a large profit. The film takes a dramatic turn then the daughter plays with the idea of becoming a prostitute. However Tsai is more interested in his son, a latent literary talent who will never flourish.