Typhoon

(TAI FENG)

It will soon be seven years since Chun-li came to live in the Alishan weather station, in the heart of the Taiwanese mountains. Neglected by her husband, she drowns her boredom in alcohol. Her daily life is about to be disrupted by the arrival of Mr Zhang and his daughter Zhen-zhu, who are going to stay with them. Captivated by the man and moved by the child, Chun-li feels herself come to life again. But she does not know that her guests are not who they pretend to be and that the police are in fact looking for Mr Zhang.

Produced in 1962 by the national studio of the Chinese Republic “Typhoon” stands out straightaway with its freedom of tone, taking no notice of State propaganda and moral conventions. The filmmaker, Pan Lei, is endowed with singular creativity and exceptional talent, creating powerful scenes where nature serves as a revelation for his outsider characters. This is a film which is decidedly in a category of its own in Taiwan cinema.