Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie Review

A collection of three great gems by the masterful director Hou Hsiao-hsien

Reviewed by Neil Lumbard April 22, 2020

A remarkable filmmaker with an iconic voice and a clear point of view which is explored throughout his wide-ranging works of art, director Hou Hsiao-hsien is one of the best Asian filmmakers and a genuine artist in every sense of the word. The remarkable collection of early works by the director is essential viewing for cinephiles hoping to delve into the body of work of the great filmmaker from the beginning years of his remarkable and storied career.

The Taiwanese filmmaker made a bold splash into international filmmaking: winning acclaim across the entire globe for his independent-spirit stories of youth (with romance and drama tossed into the equation in good measure). These evocative and personal stories are essential viewing for viewers across the world. Genius at play.

Before Hou Hsiao-hsien went on to win the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival for the beloved “The Assassin” in 2015, Hou Hsiao-hsien explored a variety of unique genres and styles in these classic films. Fans of the director should consider each film included in the collection to be a must-see gem and a stunning example of slice-of-life cinema at its finest.

Each film focused on the characters and their distinctive stories and worlds. Hou Hsiao-hsien has a uniique vision as director and each film is stylized with beautiful long-take camera shots, radiant cinematography, and great music soundtracks filled to the brim with charming pop songs which heighten the energy and tone of the filmmaking in spades.

Hou Hsiao-hsien has directed 21 films in his illustrious career to date and these early works represent some of his first forays into filmmaking (including his feature-film debut, the utterly charming Cute Girl). The films are remarkable cinematic achievements and it is impressive to see the way in which director Hou Hsiao-hsien was already a developed craftsman with a great understanding of his art of storytelling even as a young filmmaker. Bravado work. Don't miss this essential set.

Cute Girl. Amazing box-set.

The set of early works by Hou Hsiao-hsien includes three classic gems: Cute Girl, The Green, Green Grass of Home, and The Boys from Fengkuei.

For more information on each title included in the set (and a full review) please refer to the reviews as linked to below:

Cute Girl Blu-ray Review

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Review

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Review

Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For more specific information on the video-quality of each title included in the box-set please refer to the individual reviews linked to below:

Cute Girl Blu-ray Review

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Review

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Review

Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For more specific information on the audio-quality of each title included in the box-set please refer to the individual reviews linked to below:

Cute Girl Blu-ray Review

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Review

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Review

Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Please note that all included bonus features are located on disc two. For more specific information on the bonus features included for each title in the box-set please refer to the individual reviews linked to below:

Cute Girl Blu-ray Review

The Green, Green Grass of Home Blu-ray Review

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Review

Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films 1980-1983 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Director Hou Hsiao-hsien is such a gifted artist that one cannot help but become entirely mesmerized by the early films of the filmmaker. Each of the titles included in this fantastic collection is a quality achievement and a gift to cinema-lovers the world over. The filmmaking is undeniably exquisite. A treasure-trove of charming, romantic, and deeply rewarding slice-of-life gems, the Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films (1980-1983) collection is a must-own release. Don't miss it.