Rebels of the Neon God (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

Gross USA:

$28,791

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,791

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 Vive L'Amour (1994)

User Reviews

Rebel with a cause

On a more obvious level of multiple layers, a crucial, cultural point of significance seems lost in translation. As Rebels of the neon god comprise the sense of urban alienation, tradition and cultural adaptation, secularization, the decaying city and loss of identity, the original title translates literally Teenage Nezha. And as implied by his frustrated mother, the main character of Hsiao Kang bares resembling "qualities" to that of the rebel god, born into a human family and in constant opposition. While most reincarnations of Nezha grow additional limbs for the purpose of eradicating their father, Hsiao's idle hands become the playground for the prankster god. Sparked by an act of force, the two main plots of the film intertwine, and are further fueled by the returning violence. After their encounter in the arcade, Hsiao can be seen playing the same shoot-em-up as the one Ah Tze played while sitting next to him, symbolizing a change in character and the unraveling of the revenge. The directors returning use of water as ever-present, controlling element of nature, suppressing spaces of confined and human, primal behavior sets up a hierarchy of command in the metropolitan chaos of Taipei.