11. I WeirDO (2020) by Liao Ming-yi
“I WeirDO” is a narrative that is cute and is wrapped in a lot of love and loneliness. It is quite an accomplished tale of a love blossoming and withering. But most importantly, it is a work that heralds the coming of a strong talent in Liao Ming-yi and I, for one, am excited to see what he does next. (Rhythm Zaveri)
12. Increasing Echo (2021) by Chienn Hsiang
Chienn Hsiang directs a film that functions as a portrait of midlife crisis for a couple whose relationship seems to have ended a long time ago, despite the fact that neither one seems to have the strength to acknowledge or even accept the fact. Their reaction, however, is radically different. Mrs Yan has decided to tough it out, dealing with ex-mistresses and her husband's growing dependency on alcohol by trying to find any kind of distraction (the new age aspect we mentioned before), essentially being set on keeping her marriage alive no matter what. Fu-Sheng, however, has completely abandoned any kind of effort, dealing with life in the most detached way possible, as his treatment of both his son and the dog highlight quite eloquently, along with his alcoholic tendencies. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
13. Leave Me Alone (2021) by Fan Yang-chung
One of the most interesting questions Fan Yang-chung presents here is whether the two protagonists actually feel love, or if they are just using each other to achieve their goals, Loong to get a step closer to high society and Chin-sha to feel good through sex after her failing relationship, and release the pressure she receives from the chairman's peers, to let go. This question carries a significant part of the narrative, even if after a point the one-sidedness of the whole endeavor becomes painfully evident, with the answer eventually coming, but not before the ending, in the most memorable scene of the movie, despite its subtlety. At the same time, the filmmaker also presents two very interestingly broken characters, essentially making a comment about the reasons people connect, with their antithetical chemistry working quite well for the narrative, also due to the very fitting acting by Fandy Fan as Loong and Christina Mok Yun-wen as Nai-wen. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
14. Missing Johnny (2017) by Hsi Huang
Missing Johnny, is an endearing story of finding love during moments of transition. The script succeeds in creating sincere and realistic interactions between its stars, by keeping the dialogue simple. The performances from Rima Zeidan and Lawrence Ko just add to a great foundation. The production seems to embody the “Slice of Life” genre, by giving glimpses into a certain period of the characters' life while not giving a complex narrative or a strong sense of conflict. The naturalistic approach to this drama is both its strongest and weakest point. “Missing Johnny” serves as a rewarding experience for those who embrace the formula and appreciate a more methodical pace. (Adam Sumchuk)
15. Mon Mon Mon Monsters (2017) by Giddens Ko
Giddens Ko directs a movie that combines supernatural terror with surrealism in the best fashion, through a narrative that unfolds just like a nightmare. Through this unusual but quite entertaining approach, he also manages to present a number of extreme but quite realistic social, psychological, and philosophical comments. The role of teachers, bullying and the general circumstances in the school environment are the most obvious ones, but as the story progresses, human nature and particularly the way people can turn into monsters and the theme of crime and punishment take over. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
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16. Moneyboys (2021) by C.B. Yi
In building the story surrounding moneyboys' milieu in South China, C.B. Yi is interested in something other than the ‘job' a group of hunks chose to make a living. The film deals with migration of young people from the country, who in this case, happen to be working as (mostly) high-class prostitutes in big cities. Almost all come from rural China, from communities that would never have accepted their homosexuality, which means that leaving was never a matter of choice. On the run from the prejudice back home and most of all – from expectations imposed to them by their relative (=getting married and have children), they barely go to visit their parents, although they do support them financially. (Marina Richter)
17. Murmur of the Hearts (2015) by Sylvia Chang
“Murmur of the Hearts” is, without a doubt, Sylvia Chang's most accomplished work to date. Refined and polished, it is a lyrical story of three fractured souls, rich in motifs (the mother's story about angels saving the stranded fish personified in the bartender, for example) and mystical. Certainly a film that warrants repeat viewing to fully grasp, it is one that audiences will find themselves mulling over in the days following their viewing. (Rhythm Zaveri)
18. Nine Shots (2019) by James Su
In a rather minimalist tone, that implies as much as it shows, James Su manages to present the life conditions of immigrants in Taiwan, by focusing on a rather shocking incident that induces the film with a very harsh, but also very realistic essence. Evidently, witnessing the policeman shoot nine times (first four and then five more) is the scene that defines the short, and will definitely stay on the mind of the viewer for quite some time.
19. Nina Wu (2019) by Midi Z
Interestingly, Nina shows her vulnerability from the very beginning, even before her job in “Romance of the Spies” portraying herself as a woman already drained by the previous years of struggle for equality and respect in her unsuccessful acting career attempts. It is certainly a general j'accuse to the whole industry, plagued by a widespread inequality and patriarchal prejudice, not by just a single rotten apple. (Adriana Rosati)
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20. Our Times (2015) by Chen Yu-shan
Sure, “Our Times” may be filled with high school drama genre cliches, but there is no denying that Frankie Chen Yu-shan's debut feature is filled with charm, thanks in large part to its leads Vivian Sung and Darren Wang, and a lot of warmth and humour, making it a promising debut and a fun, heart-warming and nostalgic watch. (Rhythm Zaveri)
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