Kuei-mei, a Woman

This imposing social realist epic from 1985 spans three decades. To escape the Chinese Civil War in the 1950s, Kuei-mei flees on her own to Taiwan. She marries a good-for-nothing, takes a job as a waitress and overcomes all kinds of setbacks, such as a cruel boss and uncontrollable children. Her life symbolises many of the mainlanders who leave for Taiwan and illustrates socio-economic developments in Taiwan, one of the four ‘Asian tiger economies’. Just like its neighbours, in the 1960s Taiwan saw enormous economic growth that expressed itself in rapid industrialisation, with all the associated consequences.
In the West, it has remained unjustifiably unknown, but Kuei-mei, a Woman also typifies the feminist approach of director Chang Yi, who made a trilogy featuring worthy heroines. The title role is played by Yang Hui-shan, the ‘Meryl Streep of Taiwan’, who gained 15 kilos to perform her moving role (then lost it again).

The 26 January session will feature a post-screening discussion with Peter van Bueren.

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