A City of Sadness poster

A City of Sadness

7.5(160)19892h 38m7

The story of a family embroiled in the "White Terror," the Kuomintang government's anti-communist political repression that was wrought on the Taiwanese people from 1947-1987.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
Cantonese

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Produced in

Hong Kong, Taiwan

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNRNew York Film Festival6 Oct 1989
  • AustraliaAU

    • PremiereSydney Film Festival14 Jun 1990
    • PremiereMelbourne International Film Festival23 Jun 1990
    • Theatrical29 Jun 1990
    • PremiereMelbourne Taiwan Film Festival (4K Digital Restored Version)24 May 2025
  • CanadaCA

    • PremiereToronto International Film Festival15 Sept 1989
  • CzechiaCZ

    • PremiereFilmasia Film Festival1 Dec 2006
  • FranceFR

    • Theatrical28 Nov 1990
  • GermanyDE

    • PremiereBerlin International Film Festival11 Feb 1990
  • Hong KongHK

    • Theatrical21 Dec 1989
    • TheatricalIIA4K Digital Restored Version27 Apr 2023
  • ItalyIT

    • PremiereVenice Film Festival12 Sept 1989
  • JapanJP

    • Theatrical21 Apr 1990
  • NetherlandsNL

    • Theatrical2 Feb 1990
  • South KoreaKR

    • Theatrical1226 Jan 1990
    • Theatrical15Re-release12 Jun 2008
    • PremiereSeoul Arthouse Film Festival (4K Digital Restored Version)19 Nov 2025
  • SwedenSE

    • Theatrical26 Dec 1990

Frequently asked questions

A City of Sadness was released on 21 October 1989.

Audience reviews

1
  • B

    badelf

    11/15/2021

    9/10

    This film, even at 20 years old, may be the strongest cinematic statement I've ever seen against country "boundaries" and "imperialism". Between the beginning of the 20th century, Chinese people lived in Taiwan under Japanese rule for two generations. By WW II, they were living alongside the Japanese and the remaining (that's another story) indigenous peoples more or less peacefully. The Taiwanese, after two gener…

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