

A City of Sadness
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.
TMDB
7.5/10
160 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
View on IMDb
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- Cantonese
Top billed cast












Behind the camera
Gallery












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- B9/10
badelf
11/15/2021
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…
Member reviews
Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign inMember comments
0Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign in











