Qing shao nian nuo zha (1992)

Within the urban gloom of Taipei, four youths face alienation, loneliness, and moments of existential crisis amidst a series of minor crimes.

Director:

Ming-liang Tsai

Writer:

Ming-liang Tsai

Stars:

Chao-jung Chen, Chang-Bin Jen, Kang-sheng Lee

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Chao-jung Chen	...	Ah Tze
Chang-Bin Jen	...	Ah Bing
Kang-sheng Lee	...	Hsiao-Kang
Yi-Ching Lu	...	Mother (as Hsiao-Ling Lu)
Tien Miao	...	Father
Yu-Wen Wang	...	Ah Kuei

Storyline

Defying his parents, Hsiao Kang drops out of the local crammer to head for the bright lights of downtown Taipei. He falls in with Ah Tze, a pretty hood and their relationships is a confused mixture of hero-worship and rivalry that soon leads to trouble.

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Plot Keywords:

telephone call | taipei taiwan | telephone booth | pay phone | cigarette smoking | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin Min Nan

Release Date:

4 August 1994 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Teenage Norcha

Filming Locations:

Taipei, Taiwan

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,300, 17 April 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$28,422, 19 July 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Central Motion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When picking up his son from school, Hsiao Kang's father says that his son's name is "Lee Kang-Sheng". This is the name of the actor, not the character, Hsiao Kang.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mother: What on earth happened? You are all bloody. What happened?

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Connections

Followed by He liu (1997)

User Reviews

an atmospheric masterpiece

Having lived in Taiwan from the mid eighties to the late nineties, this film showed how Taipei was like during the early nineties. That was when the MRT was still under construction, and everything looks a little bit old, filthy, run down, and crowded. This film accurately portrayed the lives of the youth living at that time, such as hanging out all day in the arcade, obsession with motorbike racing, and for some going to the after school tutor seminars. when watching this film a wave of nostalgia hit me as I realized that Taiwan now is a lot more polished and modernized, and not as gritty as before, which I have dearly missed.

The film showed the "little people" of a big city. They are often ignored, alienated, and living day by day in the fringe of a faceless and monolithic society.