Renowned Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, aged 78, has been suffering from dementia for two years, as revealed by his longtime collaborator of 50 years, the distinguished editor Liao Ching-song, during a lecture at the Taoyuan Film Festival on August 3. Liao mentioned, “For those whose memory is declining, as long as their daily life is stable, their emotions will also remain stable, which is a good thing.”
Director Hou Hsiao-hsien retired in 2023 due to dementia, shocking the international film industry. Two years have passed since then, and his produced films before retirement, such as “The Old Fox,” “The Puppetmaster,” and “Daughter of the Nile,” have been gradually released. The digitally restored versions of his films, including “Millennium Mambo,” have been re-screened as well.
On August 3, the Taoyuan Film Festival held a seminar titled “Three Encounters of Shu Qi and Hou Hsiao-hsien,” inviting the renowned editor and producer Liao Ching-song, who had cooperated with Hou Hsiao-hsien for over half a century. The event took place at the Spot Taipei Film House, which holds a deep connection with both Hou Hsiao-hsien and Liao Ching-song.
Describing the current condition of Hou Hsiao-hsien, who has been battling dementia for two years, Liao Ching-song used the word “stable.” He explained, “For those experiencing memory degradation, if their daily life remains stable, their emotions will also remain stable, which is a positive sign.” Despite their decades-long friendship and partnership, Liao Ching-song expressed his reluctance to disturb Director Hou Hsiao-hsien.
“If I happen to meet him (Director Hou) on the street, and he greets me as ‘Little Liao,’ I would be delighted to chat with him. But if he doesn’t remember me, I will accept it as long as he is in good health!” Liao Ching-song stated.
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s collaborations with Shu Qi in films like “Three Times,” “Millennium Mambo,” and “The Assassin” all made it to the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, with Liao Ching-song serving as the editor for these successful projects.
Liao Ching-song, who praises Shu Qi endlessly, disclosed that during the shooting of “Three Times,” he foresaw Shu Qi’s future as a director. As expected, Shu Qi’s directorial debut film “The Girl” entered the main competition at the Venice Film Festival this year, a move that did not surprise Liao Ching-song in the least.
Liao Ching-song revealed a behind-the-scenes secret, recalling the intense filmmaking competition between Shu Qi and Director Hou on the set. He mentioned a specific scene in “Three Times” that had to be reshot several times, frustrating Shu Qi to the point where she resorted to drinking after each filming day, highlighting their competitive nature and drive as individuals born under the Aries zodiac sign.
Ultimately, Shu Qi’s performance in that segment, titled “Eternal Love,” led her to win the Best Actress award, showcasing the value of their collaboration.
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s ability to recognize the untapped potential of actresses before they blossom has earned Liao Ching-song’s admiration, such as Yang Lin in “Daughter of the Nile” and Brigitte Lin in “Good Men, Good Women.” Liao Ching-song disclosed that before working with Director Hou, Shu Qi spent a significant amount of time working in Hong Kong. Director Hou believed that the fast-paced nature of Hong Kong cinema, with short scenes, did not allow the actors to fully immerse themselves. Director Hou provided Shu Qi with the opportunity to fully explore her character in prolonged takes, allowing her more creative freedom.
Last month, Shu Qi’s directorial debut film “The Girl” was confirmed to be selected for the main competition at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in 2025, competing for the prestigious Golden Lion Award. Upon hearing the news, Shu Qi exclaimed in joy and expressed her gratitude to the significant figure in her life, Director Hou Hsiao-hsien.