This is a beautiful and moving epic that demands the big screen. From 1895 to 1945, Taiwan was a Japanese colony. After its handover to the Nationalist Chinese government there were tensions which culminated in a popular uprising on February 28, 1947, put down with great loss of life. The 2.28 Incident was taboo for the next forty years, but as the first major film to deal with the issue, A City of Sadness was a box-office smash. Yet, instead of focusing on the blood and gore of 2.28, Hou tells the story through its impact on one extended family living in a small town away from the capital, Taipei. Featuring Hou's trademark long take/long shot technique and unique elliptical storytelling, the film combines quiet observation with deep empathy and builds slowly towards a devastating final impact.-Chris Berry