Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Movie Review

The best film in the stellar Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films (1980-1983) box set

The Boys From Fengkuei (also known under the title “All the Youthful Days”) is the greatest film included in the impressive Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films (1980-1983) collection. A truly fantastic exploration of youth, the film focuses on the journey of young men who come from the fishing village of Fengkuei. One of the most personal films by director Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Boys From Fengkuei is essential viewing.

Ah-Ching (Doze Niu) and his best friends have recently finished school in their beautiful hometown of Fengkuei. Attempting to maneuver into adulthood (and away from their fishing village roots), the young men start to look for work while going on a series of misadventures which get them into newfound trouble along the way. The characters are rebels and care-free: getting into fights and drinking aplenty along the way. An unusual coming-of-age film that explores a passageway from carefree youth to adulthood.

The journey forward includes some bumbles along the way: such as a rather unfortunate con of being hood-winked into going to an “adult theater” that is just an empty building with a view of the city landscape. Despite some foibles, a fantastic journey awaits these young men. Romance is on the dreaming minds of these men (most notably Ah-Ching, who is struck by the beauty of Hsiao-hsing (Hsiu-ling Lin). What life awaits the boys from Fengukei as each transitions into becoming a adult?

The future is now.

There are many beautiful elements that comprise the whole for the charming masterpiece The Boys From Fengkuei: from impeccable music (including classical cues) to the stirring cinematography by Kun-Hou Chen (Out of the Blue, Come Fly with Me) to the pitch-perfect editing by Ching-Sung Liao (The Assassin, Three Times). The production is beautifully mounted and represents another stirring collaboration between Hou Hsiao-hsien and his frequent artistic collaborators.

Written and directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien, there is a sublime beauty inherent in The Boys From Fengkuei. The style of filmmaking feels naturalistic and raw. The performances are perfection: careening between a documentary-style realism and fantasy. The style of direction is nuanced and thought-provoking. The end result is a classic gem by Hou Hsiao-hsien. There is something truly outstanding about the simplistic yet complex style of Hou's filmmaking. Each and every frame is important. It's a true joy to be able to experience the work of a true master filmmaker and the final moments will leave one stunned. Outstanding.

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Eureka Entertainment as a part of the prestigious Masters of Cinema line, The Boys From Fengkuei is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. Restored by Cinematek with collaboration with the World Cinema Project and including the involvement and participation of director Hou Hsiao-hsien, The Boys From Fengkuei looks absolutely breathtaking.

The Boys From Fengkuei received a 4K scan. The original camera negative was scanned at 4K for the restoration process. Though there are some occasional minor specks on the print (and minor scratches) this is a largely fantastic scan showcasing the beautiful cinematography in a visually outstanding way. A truly special transfer of a worthy restoration effort that deserves an outstanding stamp of approval.

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented with a lossless uncompressed PCM mono audio soundtrack. The track has exceptional clarity overall and is the best sounding presentation out of each of the films included in the stellar Early Hou Hsiao-hsien: Three Films (1980-1983) set. A sublime sounding audio track.

The music selections are especially lovely sounding and are surprisingly crisp with worthwhile vitality. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand throughout. Though there are a few fleeting moments where one can tell there are some source limitations, this track is clear and pleasant sounding as a lossless presentation.

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

I'm Still There: The Boys From Fengkuei Video Essay (HD, 23:08) explores the last film in the set. As one of the director's most personal efforts, the visual essay explores the themes of the film, the characters, and the unique style of director Hou Hsiao-hsien.

The Boys from Fengkuei Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hou Hsiao-hsien crafted one of his best films with the mesmerizing and thought-provoking masterpiece, The Boys From Fengkuei. The storytelling is exquisite and takes viewers on a fantastic journey. The cast are quite impressive in their respective roles. The visuals are exquisite. The release has received a terrific presentation and is worth a look for fans of director Hou. Highly recommended.