Three times a winner.

Music: Demis Roussos - Rain and Tears (click to download)



Hou Hsiao-hsien's 'Three Times'. Depicts three episodes set in three different time periods, 1966, 1911, 2005, and the same couple of actor and actress, Shu Qi and Chang Chen, play out the two lead roles, evoking a sentimental tale of a three-reincarnation of an unfinished love...

1966, KAOHSIUNG: A TIME FOR LOVE
Expecting to be called up for military service any day now, Chen meets May, who works at his favourite pool-hall. They play pool together, just before he enlists for service... On a day-release from the army, Chen comes to visit May at the pool-hall. But he finds out that she has quit her job and no one knows where she's gone...

1911, DADAOCHENG: A TIME FOR FREEDOM
Mr Chang has come to see his favourite courtesan. He tells her that he means to meet a Mr Liang. Couldn't it be the revolutionary from China who has escaped from persecutions in his own country ? - the courtesan wonders... On the next day, the owner of a tea plantation and his son come to discuss buying out a young courtesan's contract. Mr Chang finds out that the son has got her pregnant. He then steps in to hasten negotiations - the courtesan is now the tea plantation owner's concubine.

2005, TAIPEI: A TIME FOR YOUTH
Zhen and Jing are passionately in love. Jing was born prematurely and as a result has to take drugs to control her epilepsy, while she is losing sight in her right eye. She lives with her mother and grandmother and also has a woman lover: Micky. Zhen works in a digital photo shop and lives with his girlfriend Blue. When Blue finds out that Zhen has fallen for Jing, she hits the roof... Where can the four of them go from here? Maybe none of them will get any peace this side of the grave.