Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tony Leung's 'The Puppetmaster' to be Released in 4K Remaster on February

The highly anticipated 〈The Puppetmaster〉, a collaboration between the master of Taiwanese New Wave, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and Tony Leung, has confirmed its release in 4K remaster this February.

Set for release in February, 〈The Puppetmaster〉 is a drama that depicts the choices of women living in the glamorous brothels of Shanghai, who carry loneliness beneath their dazzling appearances. Regarded as a leading director of the Taiwanese New Wave alongside Edward Yang and Tsai Ming-liang, Hou Hsiao-hsien has consistently directed the intersection of national history and personal life through works such as 〈A City of Sadness〉, 〈The Puppetmaster〉, and 〈Goodbye South, Goodbye〉, which form the 'Taiwanese Modern History Trilogy.' His hidden masterpiece, 〈The Puppetmaster〉, captures the intricate relationships of love, trade, and power that secretly intersect in the brothels of late 19th century Shanghai. The film, which focuses on the subtle tension between characters and the atmosphere of the space, showcases Hou Hsiao-hsien's unique restrained aesthetics and received critical acclaim, including an official selection in the competition section of the 51st Cannes Film Festival and being ranked first in the 1998 Cahiers du Cinéma's film of the year.

In 〈The Puppetmaster〉, Tony Leung, who established himself as a global actor through the Golden Lion-winning film 〈A City of Sadness〉 at the 46th Venice International Film Festival, takes on the lead role of 'Wang' and collaborates once again with director Hou Hsiao-hsien. With just a deep gaze and subtle changes in expression, Tony Leung compellingly conveys the character's inner world, drawing the audience into the story.

〈The Puppetmaster〉 will be released this February, meeting Korean audiences.