The 10 Best Taiwanese Movies of 2021
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Loading... - Qian Huang
- 13 Jan 2022
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Though it saw a flare-up in local cases during early summer, Taiwan remained relatively COVID-free during 2021 compared even to East Asian neighbors like Korea and Japan. As such, Taiwan’s cinematic industry continued to churn out theatrical releases throughout 2021.
Given this, you might wonder: what were the Best Taiwanese Movies of 2021?
In a special collaboration, the editors of New Bloom and Cinema Escapist have come up with this list of 2021’s top 10 Taiwanese films. We chose these 10 Taiwanese movies based on their narrative innovation, production quality, and societal significance. Our selections include both indie and blockbuster films across genres like horror, romance, drama, comedy, documentary, and more. When available, we’ve also included links to stream films on platforms like Netflix.
Let’s take a look through 2021’s best Taiwanese movies!
10. GATAO – The Last Stray
Chinese Title: 角é ï¼æµªæµé€£ | Director: Ray Jiang | Starring: Chang Tsai-hsing, Cheng Jen-shuo, Nikki Hsieh | Genre: Gangster, Drama
GATAO – The Last Stray is a prequel to the other two films in the GATAO trilogy of Taiwanese gangster movies, following supporting character Ah-Qing in his early days. As with other films of the genre, GATAO romanticizes the lives of Taiwanese gangsters. It depicts Ah-Qing and his comrades as old-fashioned enforcers of local justice, who are up against newer gangsters that have no moral qualms with selling drugs and other flagrantly illegal actions.
In particular, GATAO – The Last Stray follows Ah-Qing’s doomed relationship with headstrong photographer Xiao Qi, who he meets at a wedding. Though the two get off to a rocky start, they eventually fall in love despite their opposing lifestyles. However, Ah-Qing’s high-risk antics may be too much for Xiao Qi.
GATAO is a capable production, though its plot and setting are not especially original. It’s still entertaining and, even if it can be somewhat cliched, its production values provide some redemption. GATAO has a somewhat similar story to Man in Love (see later on this list)—whic points to the shared tropes between both movies. The latter is more stylized, better acted, and ultimately more original though.
9. As We Like It
Chinese Title: èŠ±å’²äº†é‚£å¥³å© | Directors: Chen Hung-i, Muni Wei | Starring: Aggie Hsieh, Puff Kuo | Genres: LGBTQ, Comedy, Romance
Especially after 2019’s legalization of same-sex marriage, Taiwan has become a relatively popular hub for LGBTQ+ narratives in East Asia. As We Like It is a notable instance of this trend, one that offers a unique gender-bending combination of Shakespeare and Taiwanese opera.
This 2021 Taiwanese film is a retelling of Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy As You Like It. The movie centers on a young woman named Rosalind, who must look for her missing father. In the process, she ends up disguising herself as a man named Roosevelt—and falling in love with another man named Orlando.
Besides being delightfully whimsical, As We Like It also takes inspiration from the traditions of Taiwanese opera—where it’s not actually that strange for women to play men. The movie is an entertaining reminder of the fluidity and cultural specificity of gender roles, and offers an exciting vision of a progressive future for Taiwan.
8. Man In Love
Chinese Title: 當男人戀愛時 | Director: Yin Chen-hao | Starring: Roy Chiu, Ann Hsu | Genre: Romance, Comedy
A remake of a South Korean film by the same name, Man in Love follows small-time gangster Ah-Cheng, a debt collector with a heart of gold. Ah-Cheng’s life of petty crime takes a sudden turn when he encounters and instantly falls for Hao Ting, a woman who went into debt to pay the medical bills for her dying father.
Much of the film’s comedy follows from Ah-Cheng’s awkward attempts to woo the disinterested Hao Ting. When Ah-Cheng eventually succeeds, he then encounters the difficulties of trying to leave the gangster life, and other related obstacles to living happily ever after with Hao Ting.
Though the film does not break any new ground for romantic comedies, it at the very least hits all the necessary beats. Roy Chiu and Ann Hsu are at the top of their game playing Ah-Cheng and Hao Ting. Arguably, it is their strong performances that made what could otherwise have been a hamstrung film stand out. The film’s costumes and sets are another accomplishment.
Stream this Taiwanese movie on Netflix
7. The Sadness
Chinese Title: å“悲 | Director: Rob Jabbaz | Starring: Berant Zhu, Regina Lei, Wang Tzu-chiang | Genres: Horror, Zombie
COVID-19 may not have ravaged Taiwan as severely as other countries, but that doesn’t mean Taiwan went without pandemic-themed movies during 2021. Just look at The Sadness, a movie that depicts the travails of a couple living in Taiwan during a viral outbreak that turns people into ultraviolet zombies.
If you’re a fan of gory horror flicks, you’ll enjoy The Sadness. The film splatters blood and guts with a level of ambition and technical prowess that few other Taiwanese movies can match. Local commentators have also praised The Sadness’ authentic depiction of daily life in Taiwan, with scenes occuring in settings like the Taipei MRT and local breakfast shops. Read More…
