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The Puppetmaster (1993)

Xi meng ren sheng (original title)
| Biography, Drama, War | 8 December 1993 (France)
The Puppetmaster Poster
Puppeteer Li Tian-lu tells his life story, and through it, the story of Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century.

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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tien-Lu Li ... Himself (as Tian-Lu Li)
... Li Tianlu (young) (as Chung Lin)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kuei-Chung Cheng ... Li Tien Lu adolescent
Chien-ru Huang
Liou Hung ... Li Hei (grandfather)
Tung-Hsiu Kao
Hei Li
Wenchang Li
Wen-Pin Liu
... Ong Hsiu (Grandmother)
I. Toshiro
... Komeng Dang (father)
Yi-Hua Tsai
Juwei Tzuo
... Lai Hwat (stepmother)
See full cast »
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Storyline

In the first half of this century, young Li Tienlu joines a travelling puppet theatre and subsequently makes a career as one of Taiwan's leading puppeteers. During World War II the Japanese rulers of Taiwan use the traditional Chinese puppet theatre for their war propaganda. Only after the war street theatres start playing again. Written by Otto Oberhauser <Oberhauser@cc.univie.ac.at>

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Plot Keywords:

taipei taiwan | taiwan | puppet | puppeteer | propaganda | See All (149) »

Genres:

Biography | Drama | War

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Details

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Release Date:

8 December 1993 (France)  »

Also Known As:

The Puppetmaster  »

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| (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider. See more »

Connections

Follows A City of Sadness (1989) See more »

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User Reviews

 
For those interested in Chinese Theater or Puppetry or in the Japanese Occupation of Taiwan
14 May 2001 | by – See all my reviews

Life in Taiwan during and shortly after the Japanese occupation (1895-1945) as seen by re-enacting episodes from the life of a hand puppeteer. The film includes selections from several puppet plays and some Chinese Opera scenes as well.

Episodic and can be hard to follow for those without a knowledge of Taiwan history and customs. Beautifully shot with very nice sets, costumes and exteriors.
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