Mark Lee

Zhen Huan, a 17-year-old innocent introduced into the imperial court as the latest concubine of Emperor Yong Zheng. Her dreams of a new life of love and prosperity are swiftly dashed as she enters a dog-eat-dog world of treachery and corruption.

In 1937, the Japanese imperialists launched a brutal war of aggression against China. Xu Tian was a color-blind accountant in Shanghai with military training who decided to stay close to his mother after the death of his father. After an accident involving a group of patriots led by a friend of his late father, he was touched by the patriotic spirit. He used his sharp mind to help the patriots transporting important materials, which also drew the attention of Japanese occupying the city to himself. During this period, he befriended Jin, a conman-turned-businessman and Tielin, a police officer working in the Shanghai French Concession. At the same time, pharmacist Tian Dan rented a room in Xu's house after losing her parents in an incident Xu was deeply involved. On the backdrop of the national crisis, people were living their intertwined lives with their own agenda, be it for revenge, for duty, for self-interest, or for ideology.

Xiao Cao is a young orphan living with her cruel aunt and uncle. She has a sisterly bond with her neighbour, Qing Qing, who is being forced into a marriage with a much older man by her older brother. Desperate to escape their unfortunate circumstances, the two girls manage to run away together on the day of Qing Qing's wedding. During their escape they coincidentally meet He Shiwei, a young university student who is also running away from his family due to an arranged marriage. After a few initial misunderstandings the three decide to travel together. However, things become complicated when they encounter the Fu family, and the family matriarch mistakes He Shiwei for her son, Fu Yuankai, who died 10 years ago.

When Liu Qingyang saves Chen Yifan during a race, she’s stunned by how much he resembles her late lover. After Qingyang’s family falls into debt, Yifan hires him at her company, pulling him into a high-stakes business war. Guided by legendary entrepreneur Mei Daoyuan, Qingyang learns to use Taichi “pushing hands” philosophy to navigate corporate battles and help save the company.

Mei is a beautiful and successful woman in many ways. However, her romantic relationships never go well. One day, Mei’s widowed father tells her he will marry Lan, an ugly and obese murder suspect. Even more shocking is that Lan is accused of being the “Poisonous Widow” who lives a luxurious life by killing her rich husbands. Mei begins to investigate Lan’s background to save her father from being a victim. Bit by bit, Mei is subconsciously influenced by Lan’s twisted views on love, money, and sex.

There are several anthology films at the beginning stage of Taiwan New Cinema. Ah Fu consists of three shorts, having directors from various backgrounds. The leading roles in the three films are all named Ah Fu. The stories are played by different actors and located in Hong Kong, China, and Taipei respectively.

Three siblings idle their time while their parents are away. Youngest son, Hsiao-hung, finds a young fugitive taking refuge in their empty home, and hides him. Later, his mother finds the murderer sleeping in a cupboard – and a night of horror takes hold.

A french TV crew breaks into a Taiwanese family in Taipei for a real TV program during a weekend. After a short thought and seducing by the possible winnings, Lin's family accepts to be followed by the cameraman Pierre for two days. Little by little, Pierre's camera has become a new way of communication in this family. Everyone delivers their way of life and thinking, and maybe a little secret.