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Super Citizen (1985) poster

Super Citizen

dir. Wan Jen · 1985

Life is a journey through hardship and connection, where the search for loved ones reveals the complexities of human existence.

Feature
Immigrant Experience
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
gritty realism with intimate close-ups
Structure
episodic journey through urban Taipei
Plot

A young man from the country comes to Taipei to search for his sister from whom he has heard nothing during the past year. Beginning in a tenement slum, the young man travels through the city's lowlife, where street hustlers sell fake Rolex watches and other contraband, gangs fight each other, and the ubiquitous sex businesses ply their trade. The young man befriends a rich teenage girl and a young prostitute as he and a hustler who knew his sister search for her through a trail of clues leading to restaurants, dance joints, and brothels.

Why watch

"Super Citizen" intricately weaves the tale of a young man's quest for belonging amidst the harsh realities of urban Taipei, capturing the essence of isolation and fleeting human connections in a gritty, evocative landscape. This poignant drama invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of familial ties and the immigrant experience, making it a must-see for those drawn to profound character studies.

Talking points
  • the impact of urban life on personal relationships
  • the search for identity in a foreign environment
  • the complexities of familial bonds
  • and the moral dilemmas faced by marginalized individuals
Cultural context
Taiwan's socio-political landscape in the late 1980surban migration patternsthe impact of globalization on local culturethe rise of independent cinema in Taiwan

Where this shelves

every shelf · back to the store