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IMDbPro

A Brighter Summer Day

Original title: Gu ling jie shao nian sha ren shi jian
  • 19911991
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 3h 57m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
Based on a true story, primarily on a conflict between two youth gangs, a 14-year-old boy's girlfriend conflicts with the head of one gang for an unclear reason, until finally the conflict comes to a violent climax.
Play trailer3:16
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
Based on a true story, primarily on a conflict between two youth gangs, a 14-year-old boy's girlfriend conflicts with the head of one gang for an unclear reason, until finally the conflict c... Read allBased on a true story, primarily on a conflict between two youth gangs, a 14-year-old boy's girlfriend conflicts with the head of one gang for an unclear reason, until finally the conflict comes to a violent climax.Based on a true story, primarily on a conflict between two youth gangs, a 14-year-old boy's girlfriend conflicts with the head of one gang for an unclear reason, until finally the conflict comes to a violent climax.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edward Yang
  • Writers
    • Hung Hung
    • Mingtang Lai
    • Alex Yang
  • Stars
    • Chang Chen
    • Lisa Yang
    • Kuo-Chu Chang
Top credits
  • Director
    • Edward Yang
  • Writers
    • Hung Hung
    • Mingtang Lai
    • Alex Yang
  • Stars
    • Chang Chen
    • Lisa Yang
    • Kuo-Chu Chang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 15 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:16
    Trailer

    Photos1222

    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
    A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chang Chen
    Chang Chen
    • Xiao Si'r (Zhang Zhen)as Xiao Si'r (Zhang Zhen)
    Lisa Yang
    • Ming (Liu Zhiming)as Ming (Liu Zhiming)
    Kuo-Chu Chang
    Kuo-Chu Chang
    • Fatheras Father
    Elaine Jin
    Elaine Jin
    • Motheras Mother
    Chuan Wang
    Chuan Wang
    • Eldest Sisteras Eldest Sister
    Han Chang
    Han Chang
    • Elder Brotheras Elder Brother
    Hsiu-Chiung Chiang
    Hsiu-Chiung Chiang
    • Middle Sisteras Middle Sister
    Stephanie Lai
    • Youngest Sisteras Youngest Sister
    • (as Fanyun Lai)
    Chi-tsan Wang
    • Cat (Wang Mao)as Cat (Wang Mao)
    Lawrence Ko
    Lawrence Ko
    • Airplane (Ji Fei)as Airplane (Ji Fei)
    Chih-Kang Tan
    • Maas Ma
    Ming-Hsin Chang
    • Underpants (Mingxin)as Underpants (Mingxin)
    • (as Mingxin Zhang)
    Chun-Lung Jung
    • Bomber (Chang Po-wen)as Bomber (Chang Po-wen)
    Hui-Kuo Chou
    • Tiger (Xiao Hu)as Tiger (Xiao Hu)
    • (as Huiguo Zhou)
    Ching-Chi Liu
    • Hefty (Da Ge)as Hefty (Da Ge)
    • (as Qingqi Liu)
    Ching-Hsiang Ho
    • Animal (Mao Shou)as Animal (Mao Shou)
    • (as Qingxiang He)
    Chang-Ta Tsai
    • Tiger's Buddyas Tiger's Buddy
    • (as Changda Cai)
    Tsung-Ming Lee
    • Tiger's Buddyas Tiger's Buddy
    • (as Zhongming Li)
    • Director
      • Edward Yang
    • Writers
      • Hung Hung
      • Mingtang Lai
      • Alex Yang
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Chen Chang, who plays Xiao Si'r (or Little Four) and Kuo-Chu Chang, who plays his father, are real-life father and son. The actor's own name is also used for the full name of the character of Xiao Si'r (or Little Four).
    • Goofs
      (at around 130 mins) When Si'r shoots Ma's shotgun, sound of a firing can be heard, but the shotgun makes no recoil, indicating that the sound effect of the firing was used in the scene and no actual gun firing took place.
    • Alternate versions
      Director's Cut is 237 minutes long.
    • Connections
      Featured in Century of Cinema: Naamsaang-neuiseung (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Why
      Composed by Peter De Angelis and Robert P. Marcucci

      Performed by Bosen Wang and Chi-tsan Wang

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A classic that will stay with you for a long, long time.
    I just finished watching this four hour epic and something tells me that this is going to remain with me for a long, long time. I was glad I entered the cinema hall with no foreknowledge of what the film was about or anything about the story, except that it was directed by Edward Yang, whose Yi Yi I liked. Am I not glad I did that? The entire film, especially the second half, is an emotional powerhouse. Its funny, sociological and emotionally brutal.

    The four hour run time was quite a deterrent however I planned it well and took one bathroom break but it was all worth it in the end. I would not recommend that you read anything of the story before you watch the film because several of the reviews above have spoilers in them. All I'll say is that it is about street gangs, but like nothing you've ever seen. It about lost childhood and children growing up so fast that its scary. The fact that all of this really happened makes it chilling.

    I'm surprised that not many people have seen this film yet because it certainly deserves a classic status. The direction is probably one of the best I've ever experienced and I will definitely seek out other Edward Yang movies to watch.

    The acting by all the teenage actors and children is nothing short of brilliant and I can see that some of the key actors never acted in another movie again which I believe is a waste.

    I don't think its out on video as yet, however I would highly recommend that you seek it out. In my opinion the film demands total attention and is best watched on the big screen rather than on video.
    helpful•16
    9
    • crappydoo
    • Jul 26, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 25, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Taiwan
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • Min Nan
      • Shanghainese
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gu ling jie shao nian sha ren shi jian
    • Filming locations
      • Taiwan
    • Production company
      • Yang & His Gang Filmmakers
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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