Tsai is a Chinese born in Malaysia, and lived there “in a very simple small village” for 20 years after which he moved to Taipei. This, he says, had “a huge impact on [his] mind and psyche”, perhaps later mirrored in his films. “Even today,” says Tsai, “I feel I belong neither to Taiwan nor to Malaysia. In a sense, I can go anywhere I want and fit in, but I never feel that sense of belonging.” He graduated from the Drama and Cinema Department of the Chinese Cultural University of Taiwan in 1982 and worked as a theatrical producer, screenwriter and television director in Hong Kong.Tsai’s honours include a Golden Lion (best picture) for Vive L’Amour at the Venice Film Festival in 1994, the Silver Bear/Special Jury Prize for The River at the 1997 Berlin International Film Festival, the FIPRESCI award for The Hole at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and the Alfred Bauer Award and Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Achievement for The Wayward Cloud at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival.The Malaysian Censorship Board on 4th March 2007 decided to ban Tsai’s latest film shot in Malaysia, I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone based on 18 counts of incidences shown in the film depicting the country “in a bad light” for cultural, ethical and racial reasons. However, they later allowed the film to be screened in the country after Tsai agreed to censor parts of the film according to the requirements of the Censorship Board. He is also known for being openly gay.
filmography
Director:
Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s’éteint et que le film commence (2007) (segment “It’s a Dream”)
… aka Chacun son cinéma (France: short title)
… aka To Each His Cinema (International: English title)
黑眼圈 (2006)
… aka I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (International: English title)
天边一朵云 (2005)
… aka Saveur de la pastèque, La (France)
… aka The Wayward Cloud (International: English title)
… aka Un nuage au bord du ciel (France)
Bem-Vindo a São Paulo (2004) (segment “Aquarium”)
… aka Welcome to São Paulo (International: English title)
不散 (2003)
… aka Bu jian bu san
… aka Good Bye, Dragon Inn (International: English title)
… aka Goodbye, Dragon Inn (USA: DVD box title)
天桥不见了 (2002)
… aka Pont n’est plus là, Le (France)
… aka The Skywalk Is Gone (International: English title)
你那边几点 (2001)
… aka 7 to 400 Blows
… aka Et là-bas, quelle heure est-il? (France)
… aka Qi dao si bai ji
… aka What Time Is It Over There? (International: English title)
… aka What Time Is It There? (International: English title)
Fish, Underground (2001)
… aka A Conversation with God
洞 (1998)
… aka The Hole (France) (International: English title)
… aka The Last Dance (International: English title)
河流 (1997)
… aka The River
我新认识的朋友 (1995) (TV)
… aka My New Friends (UK)
爱情万岁 (1994)
… aka Vive L’Amour (International: English title) (USA)
Ch’ing shaonien na cha (1992)
… aka Rebels of the Neon God
… aka Teenage Norcha
小孩 (1991)
… aka Boys (International: English title)
… aka Youngsters
All the Corners of the World (1989) (TV)
Writer:
黑眼圈 (2006)
… aka I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (International: English title)
天边一朵云 (2005)
… aka Saveur de la pastèque, La (France)
… aka The Wayward Cloud (International: English title)
… aka Un nuage au bord du ciel (France)
不散 (2003)
… aka Bu jian bu san
… aka Good Bye, Dragon Inn (International: English title)
… aka Goodbye, Dragon Inn (USA: DVD box title)
天桥不见了 (2002)
… aka Pont n’est plus là, Le (France)
… aka The Skywalk Is Gone (International: English title)
你那边几点 (2001)
… aka 7 to 400 Blows
… aka Et là-bas, quelle heure est-il? (France)
… aka Qi dao si bai ji
… aka What Time Is It Over There? (International: English title)
… aka What Time Is It There? (International: English title)
洞 (1998)
… aka The Hole (France) (International: English title)
… aka The Last Dance (International: English title)
河流 (1997)
… aka The River
爱情万岁 (1994)
… aka Vive L’Amour (International: English title) (USA)
Ch’ing shaonien na cha (1992)
… aka Rebels of the Neon God
… aka Teenage Norcha
阳春老爸 (1985) (play) (screenplay)
… aka Papa’s Spring (International: English title)
Ce ma ru lin (1984)
… aka Run Away (International: English title)
Producer:
不见 (2003) (executive producer)
… aka The Missing (International: English title)
Cinematographer:
黑眼圈 (2006)
… aka I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (International: English title)