A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
Edward Yang's monumental Taiwanese epic traces a teenager's coming of age amid gang culture, first love, and political tension in 1960s Taipei.
A Brighter Summer Day - Movie Information
- Original Title: 牯嶺街少年殺人事件
- Release Year: 1991
- Directed by: Edward Yang
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 3h 57m
- Original Language: Chinese
- Spoken Languages: Mandarin, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 27, 1991 (Taiwan), April 22, 1992 (France - U), November 23, 2017 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Cổ Lĩnh Nhai Thiếu Niên Sát Nhân Sự Kiện (VN), Gu ling jie shao nian sha ren shi jian (TW), Parlaq Bir Yay Günü (AZ), The Guling Street Youngster Murder Incident (US), 拮嶺街少年殺人事件 (JP), 고령가 소년 살인사건 (KR), Um Dia Quente de Verão (BR), Jasny dzień lata (PL)
- Production Companies: Yang & His Gang Filmmakers, Brighter Summer Productions
- Production Countries: Taiwan
A Brighter Summer Day - Plot
A boy experiences first love, friendships and injustices growing up in 1960s Taiwan.
A Brighter Summer Day - Trailer
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A Brighter Summer Day - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Edward Yang
Main Cast
- Chang Chen
- Lisa Yang
- Chang Kuo-Chu
- Elaine Jin Yan-Ling
- Chuan Wang
- Chang Han
- Chiang Hsiu-Chiung
- Stephanie Lai
- Tan Chih-Kang
- Wang Chi-tsan
Writers
- Mingtang Lai
- Edward Yang
- Yen Hung-ya
- Alex Yang
Producers
- Yu Wei-Yen
A Brighter Summer Day - FAQs
Is A Brighter Summer Day based on a true story?
Yes. The film is inspired by a real 1961 murder case in Taipei in which a teenage boy stabbed a girl he loved. Director Edward Yang drew on this incident and his own childhood memories of growing up in 1960s Taiwan to craft the film's narrative.
What is the ending of A Brighter Summer Day explained?
In the film's devastating conclusion, protagonist Xiao Si'r stabs Ming, the girl he loves, after a period of mounting frustration, social pressure, and disillusionment. The act is impulsive yet feels tragically inevitable, symbolizing the destruction of innocence and the crushing weight of a society in turmoil.
Where can you stream A Brighter Summer Day?
A Brighter Summer Day is available to stream on the Criterion Channel. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for the most current availability in your region.
Who are the main actors in A Brighter Summer Day?
The film stars Chang Chen as the lead Xiao Si'r, alongside Lisa Yang as Ming, Chang Kuo-Chu as the Father, and Elaine Jin Yan-Ling as the Mother. The ensemble cast also includes Chuan Wang, Chang Han, Tan Chih-Kang, and Wang Chi-tsan.
How long is A Brighter Summer Day?
A Brighter Summer Day has a runtime of 3 hours and 57 minutes (237 minutes). Despite its considerable length, the film is widely regarded as a richly immersive experience that rewards patient viewers with one of cinema's most fully realized portraits of adolescence and social upheaval.
What is A Brighter Summer Day about?
Set in early 1960s Taipei, the film follows Xiao Si'r, a sensitive teenage boy navigating first love, youth gang rivalries, and his family's struggles under authoritarian rule. Critics praise it as a profound meditation on lost innocence, identity, and the social fractures of post-civil-war Taiwan.
Did A Brighter Summer Day win any awards?
The film won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1991 Tokyo International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim upon its international releases. It consistently ranks among the greatest films ever made, appearing on numerous all-time best lists compiled by critics and publications worldwide.
What is the age rating for A Brighter Summer Day?
A Brighter Summer Day is rated NR (Not Rated) in the United States. The film contains depictions of youth gang violence, a murder, and mature thematic content involving adolescent trauma and political repression, making it more suitable for mature audiences and serious film enthusiasts.
More About A Brighter Summer Day
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