Three Times

2005 Drama

Millennium Mambo director Hou Hsiao-hsien explores the ever-changing cycle of love in this collection of three romantic stories set in 1911, 1966, and 2005 and utilizing the same actors in all three tales. In "A Time for Love," a fresh-faced soldier boy named Chen (Chang Chen) searches for a pool hall hostess named May (Shu Qi) who captured his heart before disappearing into the crowd. The second tale, set against the backdrop of the Japanese occupation of Taiwan and entitled "A Time for Freedom," finds an elegant courtesan tending to a young intellectual in a lavish brothel. The trilogy draws to a close with a segment entitled "A Time for Youth" in which a present-day Taipei singer who is also an epileptic neglects her female lover to seek the romantic attentions of a talented photographer.

Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien

Starring: Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Fang Mei, Su-jen Liao, Mei Di

Reviews

  • Three varieties of love: unfulfilled, mercenary, meaningless. All photographed with such visual beauty that watching the movie is like holding your breath so the butterfly wonâ??t stir.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    20 January 2013

  • One of the best films of the year.

    - The San Francisco Chronicle

    20 January 2013

  • Three Times is great cinema, pop romance that carries a special charge.

    Michael Wilmington - The Chicago Tribune

    20 January 2013

  • Finds Taiwanese master Hou Hsiao-hsien at his most intimate and romantic. The deceptive simplicity of these vignettes, written by Chu Tien-wen, throws into relief Hou's formidable storytelling strengths and visual acuity - his way with actors, his subtlety and expressiveness.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    20 January 2013

  • Another triumph of modesty from a master who deserves real, paying audiences, not just the adoration of besotted film critics.

    Wesley Morris - The Boston Globe

    20 January 2013

Awards

  • Hsiao-hsien Hou

    Cannes Film Festival (2005)

     
  • Best Actress

    Golden Horse Film Festival (2005)

  • Best Asian Film

    Hong Kong Film Awards (2006)

     
  • Best Film

    Yerevan International Film Festival (2006)