A Confucian Confusion

Director: Edward Yang

1994 / 125min / DCP

After finishing his sprawling, mournful A Brighter Summer Day, Yang made an unexpected turn towards comedy with pointed, multi-character satire A Confucian Confusion, depicting the follies and fears of a group of twentysomethings in Taipei, all in some way connected to Ni Shujun’s “culture company” director. Yang’s tone is lighter here, but his concerns are as serious as ever—among these, depicting the hectic rhythm and dingy texture of life in contemporary Taipei, and exploring the difficulties that arise as young people attempt to negotiate a rapidly changing modern world with the ancient Confucian concept of social order as their guide.

New Digital Restoration by Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute through a grant from Dir. Edward Yang’s widow Kaili Peng.