Watch The Great Buddha

The Great Buddha+ is a Taiwanese black comedy film from 2017 that follows the lives of two men, Pickle and Belly Button, who work in the same factory in rural Taiwan. The film is directed by Huang Hsin-Yao, who also wrote the screenplay and appears in the film in a small role. Pickle is a night watchman at the factory who spends his evenings watching the footage from the security cameras. In his spare time, he borrows a dashcam from his friend Belly Button and starts using it to record the streets and alleys of his hometown. Belly Button works as a truck driver during the day and spends his evenings getting drunk and hanging out with Pickle.

One night, while reviewing the security footage, Pickle discovers that his boss, Kevin, is having an affair with a local prostitute. Pickle and Belly Button become obsessed with watching Kevin's exploits on the camera and sharing them with each other. They also start to develop a friendship with the prostitute, known as Little Buddha, who is played by director Huang's wife, Chen Shu-Fang.

As the film progresses, the plot becomes more complicated, involving a stolen car, a missing corpse, and a variety of other twists and turns. The film also includes several subplots involving the lives of the other factory workers, as well as an ongoing political campaign for a local election.

One of the main themes of The Great Buddha+ is the divide between urban and rural Taiwan. The film uses the contrast between the industrial factory and the pastoral countryside to comment on the societal and economic changes that are taking place in Taiwan. It also explores the tension between tradition and modernity in Taiwanese culture, using the character of Little Buddha as a symbol of the country's evolving attitudes towards sex and sexuality.

The film's black humor and satirical edge make it a standout in Taiwanese cinema. It won several awards at international film festivals, including the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Taipei Film Festival. It was also selected as Taiwan's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards, although it did not ultimately receive a nomination.

Overall, The Great Buddha+ is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking film that offers a unique perspective on Taiwanese society and culture. With its engaging characters and intricate plot, it is a must-see for fans of Asian cinema and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of contemporary Taiwan.

The Great Buddha is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 80.