AN early masterwork of Taiwan director Hou Hsiao-hsien is now being screened at the ongoing Venice Film Festival after being stored by Cinematek, the royal cinema archive of Belgium.

    “The Boys From Feng-kuei” was made some 30 years ago, which is of great importance in the director’s career as it changed his cinematic style completely.

    It was also one of the first films that introduced the unique cinema landscape in Asia to European audience.

    The film tells the story of four rebellious teenagers from the small coastal village of Feng-kuei, who go to Kaohsiung and face the harsh realities of the big city.

    Two other early works of Hou, “Cute Girl” and “The Green, Green Grass of Home,” have also been restored by the Cinematek.

    Currently, the director’s latest film “The Assasin” is being screened across mainland theaters.

    The film was adapted from a story dating back to the late Tang Dynasty in the 9th century.

    Famous actress Shu Qi starred as a female assassin who begins to question her loyalties when she falls in love with one of her targets.

    “The Assasin” took seven years to make and was finally finished in 2012.

    It has already earned Hou the best director award at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

    (SD-Agencies)