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The Puppetmaster

Original title: Xi meng ren sheng
  • 19931993
  • 2h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • War
Puppeteer Li Tian-lu tells his life story, and through it, the story of Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century.Puppeteer Li Tian-lu tells his life story, and through it, the story of Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century.Puppeteer Li Tian-lu tells his life story, and through it, the story of Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
  • Writers
    • T'ien-wen Chu
    • Tien-Lu Li(story)
    • Nien-Jen Wu
  • Stars
    • Tien-Lu Li
    • Giong Lim
    • Kuei-Chung Cheng
Top credits
  • Director
    • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
  • Writers
    • T'ien-wen Chu
    • Tien-Lu Li(story)
    • Nien-Jen Wu
  • Stars
    • Tien-Lu Li
    • Giong Lim
    • Kuei-Chung Cheng
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 4 nominations

    Photos13

    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Tien-Lu Li in Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Tien-Lu Li in Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)
    Xi meng ren sheng (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tien-Lu Li
    • Selfas Self
    Giong Lim
    Giong Lim
    • Li Tianlu (young)as Li Tianlu (young)
    Kuei-Chung Cheng
    • Li Tien Lu adolescentas Li Tien Lu adolescent
    Chien-ru Huang
    Liou Hung
    • Li Hei (grandfather)as Li Hei (grandfather)
    Tung-Hsiu Kao
    Hei Li
    Wenchang Li
    Wen-Pin Liu
    Ming-Hua Pai
    Ming-Hua Pai
    • Ong Hsiu (Grandmother)as Ong Hsiu (Grandmother)
    I. Toshiro
    Chen-Nan Tsai
    Chen-Nan Tsai
    • Komeng Dang (father)as Komeng Dang (father)
    Yi-Hua Tsai
    Juwei Tzuo
    Li-Yin Yang
    Li-Yin Yang
    • Lai Hwat (stepmother)as Lai Hwat (stepmother)
    • Director
      • Hsiao-Hsien Hou
    • Writers
      • T'ien-wen Chu
      • Tien-Lu Li(story)
      • Nien-Jen Wu
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Otto Oberhauser <Oberhauser@cc.univie.ac.at>
    • taipei taiwan
    • fortuneteller
    • qing dynasty
    • taiwan
    • puppet
    • 144 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.
    • Connections
      Followed by Good Men, Good Women (1995)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Filial love is stronger than millennial traditions
    Perhaps Asian movies there are considered slow. But inside this slow-motion film you can feel the intensity of the human emotions in every look.

    The intensity of every shoot makes this movie an extraordinary experience for everybody.

    The plot of the film is something more than a tribute of a losing tradition, the puppets art, is about the relationships between an old man an his adopted niece. How the affection between they could break absurd but ingrain traditions from hundreds of years ago.

    The incredible sequences of puppets are only an addition in the incredible beauty of the Taiwanese landscape.The entire movie in general has a flavour that makes it tasty from start to finish.
    helpful•7
    4
    • abeldevil
    • Jan 2, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 8, 1993 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • Taiwan
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • Min Nan
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • In the Hands of a Puppet Master
    • Filming locations
      • Taiwan
    • Production companies
      • ERA International
      • Nian Dai International
      • Qiu Fusheng
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Related news

    NYC Weekend Watch: ‘The Puppetmaster,’ David Bordwell, ‘The King of Comedy’ & More
    Jun 24The Film Stage
    Watch: 1 Hour 43 Minute Talk With Hou Hsiao-hsien, Chu T'ien-Wen And Olivier Assayas
    Oct 2The Playlist

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