Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films

Join us for a mesmerizing journey through time and culture as we commemorate a quarter-century of cinematic excellence. Our “Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films” celebrates the 25th Anniversaries of films that are and will continue to be unforgettable experiences. This curated selection of timeless films that have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Delve into the artistic visions of visionary directors, as we explore the captivating narratives of Cauleen Smith's "Drylongso," the thought-provoking allure of Hong Sang-soo's "The Power of Kangwon Province," the poetic elegance of Hou Hsiao-hsien's "Flowers of Shanghai," and the enigmatic beauty of Tsai Ming-liang's "The Hole."

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Drylongso

Cauleen Smith, 1998, United States, 81 mins

Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films & Homecoming

A lost treasure of 1990s DIY filmmaking, Cauleen Smith’s Drylongso embeds an incisive look at racial injustice within a lovingly handmade buddy movie/murder mystery/ romance. Alarmed by the rate at which the young Black men around her are dying—indeed, “becoming extinct,” as she sees it—brash Oakland art student Pica (Toby Smith) attempts to preserve their existence in Polaroid snapshots, along the way forging a friendship with a woman in an abusive relationship (April Barnett), experiencing love and loss, and being drawn into the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.

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Flowers of Shanghai

Hiu Hsiao-hsien, 1998, Taiwan, 113 mins

Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films

Hou Hsiao-hsien’s gorgeous period reverie traces the romantic intrigue, jealousies, and tensions swirling around a late 19th century Shanghai brothel, where the courtesans live confined to a gilded cage, ensconced in opulent splendor yet forced to work to buy back their freedom. Among the regular clients is the taciturn Master Wang (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), whose relationship with his longtime mistress (Michiko Hada) is roiled by a perceived act of betrayal.

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The Hole (1999)

Tsai Ming-liang, 1998, Taiwan, 95 mins

Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films

Set just prior to the start of the 21st century, this vaguely futuristic story follows two residents of a quickly crumbling building who refuse to leave their homes in spite of a virus that has forced the evacuation of the area. As rain pours down relentlessly, a single man is stuck with an unfinished plumbing job and a hole in his floor. This results in a very odd relationship with the woman who lives below him. Combining deadpan humor with an austere view of loneliness and a couple of unexpected musical numbers, Tsai Ming-Liang crafted one of the most original films of the 1990s.

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The Power of Kangwon Province

Hong Sangsoo, 1998, South Korea, 110 mins

Quarter Century: Four 1998 Films

Playing with structure, perspective and time – elements that would become hallmarks of his later work – the film follows a young woman, Jisook, who, fresh off her relationship with a married man, joins two girlfriends for a vacation in the mountainous Kangwon region and quickly makes the same mistakes, tumbling into bed with a married policeman.