Watch Good Men, Good Women

Good Men, Good Women is a Taiwanese film directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien, released in 1995. The movie's storyline is set in 1990s Taiwan and consists of three distinct but interconnected narratives. The film revolves around a theater actress named Liang Ching, played by Annie Shizuka Inoh, who is preparing for a stage performance that is based on her own life.

The movie begins with Liang Ching being threatened by a gangster, who demands that she repay her late husband's debts. Liang Ching decides to leave for Japan, where she seeks refuge from her past and finds comfort in a romantic relationship with a Japanese photographer, Yamada, portrayed by Giong Lim. The two of them try to escape their painful past and start a new life together. However, memories of their time in Taiwan and the people they left behind continue to haunt them.

As the movie progresses, we see flashbacks of Liang Ching's past, which gives us an insight into her life. She was once a member of the Taiwanese army, where she fell in love with a fellow soldier. However, the situation did not end well, and soon after they are separated, Liang Ching meets and falls in love with another soldier, Ah-Wei who is played by Jack Kao. They quickly marry and have a child, but their happiness is cut short when Ah-Wei is killed during a military operation.

Liang Ching is traumatized and finds refuge in the theater, where she meets a director who offers her a role in a play that deals with the Taipei Incident of 1947, which is a historical tragedy in Taiwan's history. The play portrays the events that led to the massacre of more than 30,000 Taiwanese citizens by the Kuomintang government. Liang Ching uses the play as a medium to express her feelings of grief and resentment towards Ah-Wei's death and the political atrocities in Taiwan at the time.

As Liang Ching's relationship with Yamada progresses, she becomes more and more haunted by her past, and the lines between the play and her life begin to blur. She starts to experience strange dreams and visions, where she sees herself as a young child, and it becomes clear that she cannot escape her childhood trauma.

As the story progresses, the three narratives converge, and the movie culminates in a dramatic climax that is both tragic and hopeful. Good Men, Good Women is a complex and layered movie that deals with themes of memory, trauma, political violence, and love. Hou Hsiao-Hsien's exquisite direction, coupled with stunning cinematography and brilliant performances by the lead cast, makes Good Men, Good Women a cinematic masterpiece that demands multiple viewings.

In conclusion, Good Men, Good Women is a movie that belongs to Taiwanese New Wave cinema, which emphasizes realism and depicts the daily lives of ordinary people in Taiwan. The movie is a powerful portrayal of the impact of political events on the lives of ordinary people, and it gives a voice to the marginalized and the oppressed. The movie is a must-watch for anyone who loves cinema that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally cathartic.