Discover the Best of Taiwanese Cinema with Beamafilm
Louise van Rooyen - Beamafilm
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28/02/2025
If you’re a fan of Taiwanese or world cinema, you'll be excited to know that Beamafilm has acquired the Chienn Hsiang collection. This is your chance to discover Hsiang's intimate and visually poetic storytelling style, with its themes of self-discovery and the quiet struggles of everyday life. Using minimal dialogue and meticulously composed cinematography, Chienn's subtle yet powerful character studies evoke deep emotions, masterfully capturing themes of urban isolation and internal conflict.
To celebrate this resonant new collection, we've curated a Taiwanese film festival ranging from heartfelt dramas to historical epics and a tantalising Ang Lee delight. If you love films with emotional depth, cultural insight, and visually striking storytelling, you'll be glued to the couch with our line-up below:
To celebrate this resonant new collection, we've curated a Taiwanese film festival ranging from heartfelt dramas to historical epics and a tantalising Ang Lee delight. If you love films with emotional depth, cultural insight, and visually striking storytelling, you'll be glued to the couch with our line-up below:
Increasing Echo (2021) - Memory, Betrayal and Closure.
Directed by Chienn Hsiang, Increasing Echo invites us into Mrs. Yan’s seemingly perfect life as it unravels in a turmoil of confusion, medication, and unresolved past wounds—until an unexpected message forces her to confront old scars.
Sen Sen (2017) – A Heartwarming Tale of Life and Loss.
Also directed by Chienn Hsiang, Sen Sen is a poignant coming-of-age drama that beautifully weaves together the lives of a young boy and a terminally ill livestreamer. This touching film explores the fleeting nature of time, the power of human connection, and how we find meaning in the moments that matter. If you loved The Farewell or A Sun, this one’s for you.
Exit (2014) – A Quietly Powerful Portrait of Solitude.
Another masterpiece by Chienn Hsiang, Exit follows Ling, a middle-aged woman navigating loneliness and self-discovery in modern Taipei. Featuring an exquisite performance by Chen Shiang-Chyi, this deeply moving film invites viewers to reflect on aging, independence, and personal reinvention.
Black Sheep (2007) – Cycles of Family Conflict.
Directed by Bon An, Black Sheep takes us behind closed doors in the Lau family, where violence is the unspoken rule, trapping father and son in a brutal cycle of control, resentment, and desperation.
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) – A Feast for the Senses.
A true classic by the legendary Ang Lee, Eat Drink Man Woman is a must-watch for food and film lovers alike. This delightful family drama is packed with mouth-watering dishes, heartfelt storytelling, and a celebration of Taiwanese culture. Join Master Chef Chu and his daughters as they navigate love, tradition, and change—one delicious meal at a time.
Warriors of the Rainbow (2011) – An Epic Historical Saga.
This critically acclaimed series tells the gripping true story of the Seediq Bale people, who fought against Japanese colonial rule in the 1930s. A visually stunning and action-packed historical epic, Warriors of the Rainbow is an unmissable tribute to resilience, identity, and freedom.
Testimony of a Thread (2020) – Weaving Together Truth and Tradition.
This eye-opening documentary explores the role of textile arts in Taiwanese culture and history, uncovering stories of tradition, craftsmanship, and the women who have carried these legacies forward. Testimony of a Thread is a must-watch for those who appreciate the intersection of art, history, and storytelling.
Whether you're in the mood for family drama, personal introspection, epic rebellion, or cultural deep dives, these films open up a cinematic passport to Taiwan that will transport you to another world. So grab the popcorn, settle in, and start streaming.
Directed by Chienn Hsiang, Increasing Echo invites us into Mrs. Yan’s seemingly perfect life as it unravels in a turmoil of confusion, medication, and unresolved past wounds—until an unexpected message forces her to confront old scars.
Sen Sen (2017) – A Heartwarming Tale of Life and Loss.
Also directed by Chienn Hsiang, Sen Sen is a poignant coming-of-age drama that beautifully weaves together the lives of a young boy and a terminally ill livestreamer. This touching film explores the fleeting nature of time, the power of human connection, and how we find meaning in the moments that matter. If you loved The Farewell or A Sun, this one’s for you.
Exit (2014) – A Quietly Powerful Portrait of Solitude.
Another masterpiece by Chienn Hsiang, Exit follows Ling, a middle-aged woman navigating loneliness and self-discovery in modern Taipei. Featuring an exquisite performance by Chen Shiang-Chyi, this deeply moving film invites viewers to reflect on aging, independence, and personal reinvention.
Black Sheep (2007) – Cycles of Family Conflict.
Directed by Bon An, Black Sheep takes us behind closed doors in the Lau family, where violence is the unspoken rule, trapping father and son in a brutal cycle of control, resentment, and desperation.
Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) – A Feast for the Senses.
A true classic by the legendary Ang Lee, Eat Drink Man Woman is a must-watch for food and film lovers alike. This delightful family drama is packed with mouth-watering dishes, heartfelt storytelling, and a celebration of Taiwanese culture. Join Master Chef Chu and his daughters as they navigate love, tradition, and change—one delicious meal at a time.
Warriors of the Rainbow (2011) – An Epic Historical Saga.
This critically acclaimed series tells the gripping true story of the Seediq Bale people, who fought against Japanese colonial rule in the 1930s. A visually stunning and action-packed historical epic, Warriors of the Rainbow is an unmissable tribute to resilience, identity, and freedom.
Testimony of a Thread (2020) – Weaving Together Truth and Tradition.
This eye-opening documentary explores the role of textile arts in Taiwanese culture and history, uncovering stories of tradition, craftsmanship, and the women who have carried these legacies forward. Testimony of a Thread is a must-watch for those who appreciate the intersection of art, history, and storytelling.
Whether you're in the mood for family drama, personal introspection, epic rebellion, or cultural deep dives, these films open up a cinematic passport to Taiwan that will transport you to another world. So grab the popcorn, settle in, and start streaming.
Watch for FREE with a participating library card or on a 30-day trial. Also, you can rent a film for 72 hours.
Mrs. Yan's life seems perfect, but her mind is in turmoil. Seeking peace through various methods, she finds no relief—until she learns that her husband's former mistress now suffers from dementia in a nursing home.
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Sen Sen is a boy in Taiwan mourning his older brother’s death. When he discovers a streaming website that his brother followed it leads him to an old lady with terminal cancer. Together they form an unlikely bond.
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Featuring an award winning central performance by Chen Shiang-Chyi, the film focuses on a Taiwanese woman struggling with middle age and early-onset menopause, balancing her repressed desire against conforming to social...
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In the LAU family, violence reigns. Chi-ping rebels against his abusive father, Ming, who struggles under debt and resentment toward his own ailing father.
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A father and his daughters experience generational conflict at the dinner table.
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An indigenous clan-based people living in harmony with nature find their way of life threatened when violent interlopers from another culture arrive.
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In this globalizing world, international conglomerates are seeking more and cheap labour every day, Bangladesh became the 2nd largest provider of world clothing, which is led by China.
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Taiwan, Taiwanese film, Chienn Hsiang, drama, world cinema