Rebels of the Neon God 青少年哪吒

Film

No Bookings Available

Feature Film

Teenager Hsiao Kang becomes fascinated with a petty thief in Tsai Ming-Liang's debut feature.

Information

Programme History

Part of Queer East Festival 2023

Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Runtime: 106 Mins
Year: 1992
Country: Taiwan

Director Tsai Ming-Liang's debut feature is a masterful exploration of urban alienation and sexual malaise, widely regarded as one of the best Taiwanese films of all time. The parallel stories are about teenager Hsiao Kang, who feels stifled living at home with his parents, and petty thief Ah-Tze, the object of the teenager’s obsessive hero-worship. One of the quintessential Taipei films, Rebels of the Neon God captures a transformative moment in the city’s history, as the decaying architecture of the nationalist era gives way to way to technological modernisation, video game arcades, and shiny new shopping malls. Foregrounding themes of queer desire, the film introduced cinemagoers to Tsai’s signature minimalist style, and to his muse, actor Lee Kang-Sheng, who has subsequently appeared in every film made by the director.

Gallery

Director Profile

Tsai Ming-liang

Tsai Ming-liang is a Malaysian-Taiwanese filmmaker. He has written and directed 10 feature films as well as many short films and television films. Tsai is one of the most celebrated Second New Wave film directors of Taiwanese cinema.

- Feature Film
Girlfriends 女孩不平凡
Film
28 October 2026 18:00Storyhouse
- Feature Film
- Documentary
Between Goodbyes
Film
1 November 2026 18:00Storyhouse
- Feature Film
Blue Boy Trial ブルーボーイ事件
Film
7 November 2026 17:00Storyhouse
- Feature Film
A Useful Ghost ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ
Film
10 November 2026 20:30Showroom Cinema

Explore

Festival

Second Thoughts

Lab

Rebels of the Neon God 青少年哪吒

Information

Gallery

Director Profile