Growing Up

Growing Up, which became an unexpected commercial success and a New Cinema landmark, was the result of an encounter between Chu Tien-wen’s literary sensibility and the commercially successful partnership of Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Chen Kun-hou. Adapted by Chu from her own story, the film uses the maturing of the protagonist to explore a number of social issues - juvenile delinquency, generational shifts, the relationship between immigrants from the mainland and the local population - all of which point up the ambiguities of Taiwanese identity. Director/cinematographer Chen presents the tribulations of the central family with an emotional candor that would be lacking in subsequent New Cinema films. (Richard I. Suchenski)

The 24 January session will feature a post-screening discussion with Kevin B. Lee.