The Heroes and the Bear

In quiet campuses everywhere, incidents of kidnapping of school children occurred one after another. When the school was ordered to talk to parents about [binding], the society became uneasy and public opinion was in an uproar. Fang Hua, a popular stage star, raised her daughter Liyun independently due to a failed marriage. Liyun is very well-behaved, but because mother and daughter spend less time together and more separation, they are a family with flawed family relationships. Taxi driver Xiao Liao once bravely stopped a kidnapping case, but suffered heavy losses, which made him feel that it was difficult to be a good person in this society. Moreover, due to his own limited education, it is difficult to survive in this diverse society. The only comfort was his lover Xiulan.

Directed by Ching-chieh Lin, The Heroes and the Bear leans on a strong ensemble — Yu Tian, Wai Ting-Foon, Liu Chun — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1988.