Best Taiwanese documentary movies

Jacky Cheung A Classic Tour - Finale Taipei 《學友·經典世界巡迴演唱會》台北站再見篇 (2019)

MAYDAY 2001 Tour (2001)

168th Concert (1999)

MAYDAY 2000 Tour (2000)

Liu Pi-Chia (1967)

LIU PI-CHIA, a biographical documentary depicting the life of a veteran who joined tens of thousands of others to work on national infrastructure construction projects in the 1960s, is considered Taiwan’s first cinéma vérité film.

Testimony Feburary 28th (1992)

Around 1992, when Taiwan's documentaries had not yet sprouted, Chen Yingzhen produced a documentary about the 228 Incident, titled "Testimony February 28th", and compiled the testimonies into a book by Yeh Yun-wan.

The Search for General Tso (2014)

From New York City to the farmlands of the Midwest, there are 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the U.S., yet one dish in particular has conquered the American culinary landscape with a force befitting its military moniker—“General Tso’s Chicken.” But who was General Tso and how did this dish become so ubiquitous? Ian Cheney’s delightfully insightful documentary charts the history of Chinese Americans through the surprising origins of this sticky, sweet, just-spicy-enough dish that we’ve adopted as our own.

Go Grandriders (2012)

17 riders with avarage age 81 decide to follow the dream of their youth and start their journey to ride around Taiwan island.

Flowers of Taipei: Taiwan New Cinema (2014)

With Taiwan remaining in the grip of martial law in 1982, a group of filmmakers from that country set out to establish a cultural identity through cinema and to share it with the world. This engaging documentary looks at the movement's legacy.

Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story (2018)

The first and only Taiwanese player for the New York Yankees, Chien-Ming Wang held many titles: American League Wins Leader, World Series Champion, Olympian, Time 100 Most Influential, and The Pride of Taiwan. He had it all - until a 2008 injury forever altered the course of his career. Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story - named after the late sinking action on his signature pitch - follows the rise and fall of the international icon as he fights his way back into the Major Leagues through endless rehab programs and lengthy stints away from home, carrying the weight of the world on his battered shoulder. A poignant and intimate account of Wang’s steadfast quest, Late Life tells the story of a man who is unwilling to give up and unable to let go.

Let It Be (2005)

What do you think of when you think of a grain of rice? Let It Be is a documentary that records the daily labor and lives of three elderly rice farmers in Tainan County’s Houbi Township. In the heart of Taiwan’s rice-producing country, they have passed their days shedding a bead of sweat to match each grain of rice. The film depicts their lifestyles which have changed little over the last half-century. Observing their toil at work and the way they go about their lives allows the viewer to appreciate the wisdom that imbues their lives and the fascinating dynamics of their relationships with each other, their animals, the gods, the weather, and the land. Between the vastness of the heavens and the joys and sorrows of the earth and its inhabitants, each farmer fulfills his unique destiny.

The Night (2021)

In 2019, the night in Hong Kong was still in fascinating beauty and the landscape of everyday life was gradually changing. Travelling the streets, Tsai Ming-liang documented the city's rhythm and ambience, along with an overpass.

The King of Wuxia Part 2 (2022)

離亂之歌 (2023)

The King of Wuxia Part 1 (2022)

The life of the epoch-making master of martial arts cinema, King Hu.

Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above (2013)

Documenting Taiwan from an aerial perspective offering a glimpse of Taiwan's natural beauty as well as the effect of human activities and urbanization on our environment.

Jump Boys! (2005)

Best Documentary Film of Golden Horse Awards 2005, Special Jury Prize and Audience Award, Taipei Film Festival 2005 "Jump! Boys," a warm and engaging documentary about young boys training for gymnastics competition, brought out tears and laughter when it was shown in local theaters.

Amazing Grace (2020)

Grace Fisher was an active musician and dancer until a rare spine disease almost derailed her budding career. In this award winning documentary, we see grief transformed into gratitude and tragedy turned into opportunity.

Small Talk (2016)

In the table that symbolizes the value of traditional women, a woman who wants to break free from her family must face her daughter.

Love Talk (2018)

Seven years. Eight married couples. They are open and honest, reflecting on why they married each other in the first place, why they have lost the passion, and why they are tired of the other person's problems with the mother-in-law; they talk about sex, having children, and the fact that they can't stand each other any longer...

Wansei Back Home (2015)

'Wansei' refers to those Japanese who were born in Taiwan during the colonial period. After WWII, they were repatriated to Japan. It took the director 12 years to conduct the interviews and five years to shoot. It tells the stories of not only Wansei themselves but their friendships, family ties and bravery when facing the harsh adversity.

The Lost Sea (2014)

In the waters around Kinmen Island, there is a curious creature which has existed for over 200 million years. People on Kinmen have made a living from the sea for over 300 years. They have survived the cross-strait conflicts between Taiwan and mainland China. But in the era of peace, both now face a critical crisis: the misuse of the coast by commercial development.

Ode to Time (2016)

After four decades, a group of veteran singers gather together again. The songs they wrote when they were young had once changed the fate of the island. However, time took away their youth and changed the island's soul. Not only a new national identity has formed but so many new music genres have emerged since then. Can the innocent songs they sang back in the old days still be related to the new era?

The Inspired Island: The Coming of Tulku (2011)

Our Time, Our Story (2002)

Richly illustrated with film clips and interviews, OUR TIME, OUR STORY tells the still-evolving story of the Taiwanese "new wave," from its rise in the early 1980s, as the island was democratizing after decades under martial law, through growing international recognition and domestic debate in the 1990s. Spearheaded in its early years by such filmmakers as Edward Yang, Ko I-cheng, Hou Hsiao-hsien and Wan Jen, the movement revitalized Taiwan cinema through low-budget experiments that emphasized personal stories, political reflection and stylistic invention. Said filmmakers, writers and actors like Wu Nien-jen and Sylvia Chang, even "second wave" directors Tsai Ming-liang and Lin Cheng-sheng provide fond reminiscences and retrospective insights in this compelling account of one of the most distinctive national cinemas of the last quarter-century.

Let the Wind Carry Me (2009)

Focusing on Mark Lee Ping-bin, one of the most talented and prolific cinematographers in Asia, the movie details the itinerant lifestyle of a deeply observant and philosophical artist and the tolls that his profession takes on his family life.

A Holy Family (2022)

The director gets a phone call from his aged mother. A stubborn woman, she worries about the future of the rest of the family. The father is a gambling addict in poor health; the brother is penniless yet sure of his talent as a medium. Looking back at the reasons he left 20 years earlier, Elvis A-Liang Lu creates a wonderful family portrait, touching and full of light.

Doctor (2006)

In 1996, Dr Wen's son, committed suicide in their home in Iowa City. Devastated, Dr Wen moved to Miami and years later would treat a young boy from Peru with cancer named Sebastian. Sebastian's optimism inspires Dr. Wen as we follow this inspiring story of youth and compassion.

Whale Island (2021)

Taiwan is an island country. Although it is surrounded by the sea, its people fear the sea since the politics, the history and the religious beliefs held on this island make people turn their backs to the sea. Oceanic literature author Liao Hung-chi and underwater photographer Ray Chin lead the audience out to the sea and into the water. They prompt us to understand the sea and to think about the possibility that the ocean might become our lives and the future of our country.

Our Youth In Taiwan (2018)

A star of the Taiwanese student movement, a celebrity Chinese student who loves Taiwan, and a Taiwanese documentary filmmaker passionate about politics. Each of them shared dreams of rebellion and building a better country. In the wake of the biggest social movement in Taiwan in recent years, they reflect on how close they came to realising their goals, how they were let down, and whether it is still possible to continue fighting for ideals.