Official promotional poster. Rights belong to the respective rights holders.
View the film source Availability and pricing vary by region.A Brighter Summer DayA movie brief.
1991 / epic coming-of-age period crime drama film / Directed by Edward Yang
A poignant tale of youth, love, and violence in 1960s Taiwan.
What is A Brighter Summer Day about?
Set in 1959-1960 Taipei, the film follows Hsiao Si'r, a junior high student who veers into juvenile delinquency. His life becomes entangled with local gangs and a complicated romance.
Five things to know.
Setup
The film is based on a real incident from the director's school days about a teenage boy who murders his girlfriend.
World
The story is set in early 1960s Taipei, a city with divisions of nationality, culture, and age.
Pressure
Si'r's father is a government worker who faces accusations of espionage, adding to the family's turmoil.
Craft
The film features a novelistic richness of character, setting, and milieu, with a blend of violence and introspection.
Viewing Note
The film's 237-minute runtime requires patience, but offers a complex portrait of Taiwanese identity and youth culture.
A thought to take with you.
Hsiao Si'r moves between school, family, and youth-gang life in a society undergoing political and cultural change. The film's length lets small encounters accumulate, showing how identity and violence develop inside a specific Taipei community.
Is it your kind of movie?
Choose it for a long, carefully observed Taiwanese coming-of-age crime drama based on real events. Its political setting and many characters reward attentive viewing.
Sources & scope
This AI-assisted brief is based on the linked secondary reference. Facts and interpretation are separated; it does not claim personal viewing or independent expert review.
Source details checked October 10, 2026. Suggest a correction · Our editorial approach