Tsai Ming-liang

Directing

Tsai Ming-liang

Born October 27, 1957 · Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia (age 68)

Tsai Ming-liang (Chinese: 蔡 明亮, Pinyin: Cài Míngliàng; born October 27, 1957) is a Malaysian-Taiwanese filmmaker. He has written and directed 11 feature films and has also directed many short films, television films, documentaries and art installations. Tsai is one of the most celebrated "Second New Wave" film directors of Taiwanese cinema. His films have been acclaimed worldwide and have won nume…

Known For

VisageVisage · 2009
Visage
5.42009
MovieComedyDrama
Hsiao-Kang, a Taiwanese film director, travels to the Louvre in Paris, France, to shoot a film that explores the Salomé myth.
Li-hsiang’s Love LineLi-hsiang’s Love Line · 1990
Li-hsiang’s Love Line
5.01990
MovieDramaTV Movie
A quiet story that follows the development of a love affair between an unmarried factory worker and the widowed factory manager.
Stray DogsStray Dogs · 2014
Stray Dogs
6.32014
MovieDrama
An alcoholic man and his two young children barely survive in Taipei. They cross paths with a lonely grocery clerk who might help them make a better life.
Spring DaddySpring Daddy · 1985
Spring Daddy
7.01985
MovieDrama
Zang Guang-xing is a veteran soldier from Mainland China who married a young Taiwanese woman. He has been working as a supervisor in a construction company for seven years. Everyday he rides the same motorbike to work. He suffers enough misery from riding that motorbike, and dreams of buying a car. So he asks around for decent second-hand cars. His son doesn't like any car he chooses. His wife, a typical Taiwanese woman who lives frugally, shaves any penny she can. She is the one who pays for the family's new car. They go out on trips happily, and become the envy of the neighborhood. Zhang thus gets the new car he's always dreamed of, but he starts to worry about it getting dirty, because it's simply too new, too nice for him. The car thus becomes his son's vehicle. He rides the old bike to work again, just like he has during all these years.
The DesertedThe Deserted · 2018
The Deserted
7.02018
MovieDrama
Tsai Ming-Liang, the artisan of cinematography approaches virtual reality, pushing the boundaries of VR film. The Deserted stripped away traditional film techniques and is presented in 360 degrees, like a theatre. The viewer is placed in the scene and is allowed to look freely at the construction of the environment. And immersed in the handcraft of the scenes.
The Wayward CloudThe Wayward Cloud · 2005
The Wayward Cloud
5.92005
MovieComedyDrama
Hsiao-Kang, now working as an adult movie actor, meets Shiang-chyi once again. Meanwhile, the city of Taipei faces a water shortage that makes the sales of watermelons skyrocket.
To Each His Own CinemaTo Each His Own Cinema · 2007
To Each His Own Cinema
6.52007
MovieComedyDrama
Commissioned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "To Each His Own Cinema" brought together 33 of the world's pre-eminent filmmakers to produce short pieces exploring the multifarious facets of cinema and their perspective on the state of their chosen artform in the early 21st century.
The Skywalk Is GoneThe Skywalk Is Gone · 2002
The Skywalk Is Gone
5.92002
MovieComedyDrama
A young woman wandering around meets a young man going to a casting call for a pornographic film.

Movies

VisageVisage · 2009
Visage
5.42009
MovieComedyDrama
Hsiao-Kang, a Taiwanese film director, travels to the Louvre in Paris, France, to shoot a film that explores the Salomé myth.
Li-hsiang’s Love LineLi-hsiang’s Love Line · 1990
Li-hsiang’s Love Line
5.01990
MovieDramaTV Movie
A quiet story that follows the development of a love affair between an unmarried factory worker and the widowed factory manager.
Stray DogsStray Dogs · 2014
Stray Dogs
6.32014
MovieDrama
An alcoholic man and his two young children barely survive in Taipei. They cross paths with a lonely grocery clerk who might help them make a better life.
Spring DaddySpring Daddy · 1985
Spring Daddy
7.01985
MovieDrama
Zang Guang-xing is a veteran soldier from Mainland China who married a young Taiwanese woman. He has been working as a supervisor in a construction company for seven years. Everyday he rides the same motorbike to work. He suffers enough misery from riding that motorbike, and dreams of buying a car. So he asks around for decent second-hand cars. His son doesn't like any car he chooses. His wife, a typical Taiwanese woman who lives frugally, shaves any penny she can. She is the one who pays for the family's new car. They go out on trips happily, and become the envy of the neighborhood. Zhang thus gets the new car he's always dreamed of, but he starts to worry about it getting dirty, because it's simply too new, too nice for him. The car thus becomes his son's vehicle. He rides the old bike to work again, just like he has during all these years.
The DesertedThe Deserted · 2018
The Deserted
7.02018
MovieDrama
Tsai Ming-Liang, the artisan of cinematography approaches virtual reality, pushing the boundaries of VR film. The Deserted stripped away traditional film techniques and is presented in 360 degrees, like a theatre. The viewer is placed in the scene and is allowed to look freely at the construction of the environment. And immersed in the handcraft of the scenes.
The Wayward CloudThe Wayward Cloud · 2005
The Wayward Cloud
5.92005
MovieComedyDrama
Hsiao-Kang, now working as an adult movie actor, meets Shiang-chyi once again. Meanwhile, the city of Taipei faces a water shortage that makes the sales of watermelons skyrocket.
To Each His Own CinemaTo Each His Own Cinema · 2007
To Each His Own Cinema
6.52007
MovieComedyDrama
Commissioned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, "To Each His Own Cinema" brought together 33 of the world's pre-eminent filmmakers to produce short pieces exploring the multifarious facets of cinema and their perspective on the state of their chosen artform in the early 21st century.
The Skywalk Is GoneThe Skywalk Is Gone · 2002
The Skywalk Is Gone
5.92002
MovieComedyDrama
A young woman wandering around meets a young man going to a casting call for a pornographic film.
Goodbye, Dragon InnGoodbye, Dragon Inn · 2003
Goodbye, Dragon Inn
6.82003
MovieDrama
On a dark, wet night in Taipei City, a cavernous old picture palace is about to close its doors forever. A meager audience, the remaining few staff, and perhaps even a ghost or two, watch King Hu’s wuxia classic "Dragon Inn", each haunted by memories and desires evoked by cinema itself.
No No SleepNo No Sleep · 2015
No No Sleep
5.92015
MovieDramaDocumentary
In 2015, Tsai Ming-Liang was once again invited by the Hong Kong International Film Festival to make the opening short film. This time, he selected Shibuya station in Tokyo as his main filming location and invited the famous Japanese actor Masanobu Ando to appear alongside Lee Kang-Sheng. They sleep separately at a capsule hotel and cleanse themselves at a public bath. Their fatigued bodies yearn for sleep but restless minds keep them for falling asleep. "No No Sleep" won the Best Director Award at the Taipei Film Festival.
Vive L'AmourVive L'Amour · 1995
Vive L'Amour
7.21995
MovieDrama
Three lonely young denizens of Taipei unknowingly share an apartment: May, a real estate agent who uses it for her sexual affairs; Ah-jung, her current lover; and Hsiao-kang, who's stolen the key and uses the apartment as a retreat.
Night JourneyNight Journey · 2025
Night Journey
2025
MovieDramaDocumentary
A sleeping city, streets without people. A figure in a red robe walks slowly — across a carpet of leaves, over cobblestones, along the cold pavement. Autumn night fog descends upon the city. In the cinema, people watch the monk’s slow steps and fall asleep. Can phantoms meet and understand each other? Night Journey was created in just ten days through a collaboration between Tsai Ming-liang and FAMU students — a tribute to cinema and to Jihlava as a place of silent dreaming.
The RiverThe River · 1997
The River
6.81997
MovieDramaRomance
A young man develops severe neck pain after swimming in a polluted river for a movie shoot, but nobody can provide him any relief.
DaysDays · 2021
Days
6.42021
MovieDrama
Kang lives alone in a big house, Non in a small apartment in town. They meet, and then part, their days flowing on as before.
Rebels of the Neon GodRebels of the Neon God · 1994
Rebels of the Neon God
7.31994
MovieDramaCrime
In Taipei, four youths face alienation, loneliness, and moments of existential crisis amidst a series of minor crimes.
The HoleThe Hole · 1999
The Hole
7.01999
MovieDramaRomance
In the final days of the year 1999, almost everyone in Taiwan has died from a strange plague that ravished the island. As rain pours down relentlessly, a single man is stuck with an unfinished plumbing job and a hole in his floor. This results in a very odd relationship with the woman who lives below him.
Sleeping on Dark WatersSleeping on Dark Waters · 2008
Sleeping on Dark Waters
5.72008
MovieDocumentary
A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of Ming-liang Tsai’s I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone.
WanderingWandering · 2021
Wandering
6.72021
MovieDrama
This short by Tsai Ming-liang, completed in 2021, was filmed at "the Dune" in Yilan, Taiwan, where the eight films in his Walker series were being shown.
Journey to the WestJourney to the West · 2014
Journey to the West
6.32014
MovieDramaDocumentary
In 2014, Tsai Ming-Liang was invited to make a film for the MarseilleFID, Marseille International Film Festival. Since he was not familiar with Marseille, he decided to make a film as tourist, capturing the beautiful Mediterranean sunshine in the late summer of that year. He also invited famous French actor, Denis Lavant, to appear alongside Lee Kang-Sheng playing Xuanzang. "Journey to the West" was invited to be the opening short film at the Berlin International Film Festival the same year.
What Time Is It There?What Time Is It There? · 2001
What Time Is It There?
7.02001
MovieDrama
A street vendor with a grim home-life forges a connection with a young woman on her way to Paris.
I Don't Want to Sleep AloneI Don't Want to Sleep Alone · 2006
I Don't Want to Sleep Alone
6.52006
MovieDramaRomance
Rawang, an immigrant from Bangladesh living in awful conditions, takes pity on a Chinese man, Hsiao-kang, who is beaten up and left in the street. Rawang lovingly nurses him on a mattress he found. When he is almost healed, Hsiao-kang meets the waitress Chyi. His love for Rawang is put to the test.
Letters from the SouthLetters from the South · 2013
Letters from the South
5.42013
MovieDrama
Six filmmakers present six short films about the experiences of Chinese immigrants. Shot across Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar, the anthology depicts the crisis of identity that accompanies international migration.
Léaud l'uniqueLéaud l'unique · 2001
Léaud l'unique
10.02001
MovieTV MovieDocumentary
Documentary about the work of Nouvelle Vague actor Jean-Pierre Léaud, with interview clips, film clips and contributions from directors and actors he has worked with.
WhereWhere · 2022
Where
2022
MovieDramaDocumentary
The ninth opus of his Walker Films series, which was shot at Centre Pompidou.

TV Shows

Golden Horse AwardsGolden Horse Awards · 1962
Golden Horse Awards
9.01962
SeriesDocumentary
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards (Chinese: 台北金馬影展; pinyin: Táiběi Jīnmǎ Yǐngzhǎn; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak Kim-má iáⁿ-tián) is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is usually held in November or December in Taipei, although the event has also been held in other locations in Taiwan in recent times
Three PigletsThree Piglets · 2019
Three Piglets
2019
Series
MotherMother · 2022
Mother
2022
SeriesDramaFamily
At age 12, in the twilight of the Chinese Civil War, GAO Bing-han followed the Nationalist government in their exodus to Taiwan under his mother’s orders. Now, in his 80s and a lawyer, GAO encounters three mothers in his work. The first is HONG, who tolerates her son’s violence. The second is JIANG, an indigenous woman who isn’t accepted by her father-in-law. And the last one is XIE, who seems elegant on the surface but is greatly depressed due to her family problems. In the midst of dealing with the conflicts of these three, GAO can’t help but sigh: “Did the war really end?”