Keff 's Gangs of Taiwan(Locust) is his first feature film, a dramatic thriller set in Taiwan. The film, presented at the Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival 2024, stars Wei Chen Liu, Rimong Ihwar and Devin Pan in a dark tale centered on a young man caught between his family responsibilities and his criminal activities. Through this story of double lives and conflicting loyalties, the film explores the violence, loneliness and social tensions of Taiwan's marginalized youth.
Gangs of Taiwan will be released in cinemas from July 30, 2025.
Discover the first images of the film Gangs of Taiwan in this trailer, revealing a tense urban world and an atmosphere charged with tension.
Synopsis: In Taiwan, Zhong-Han, a mute young man in his twenties, leads a double life. Employed in a family restaurant by day, he runs a racket by night on behalf of local gangsters. But when a crooked businessman takes over the restaurant, his family is in danger, and Zhong-Han is forced to confront his own gang.
Gangs of Taiwan may appeal to viewers with a taste for urban drama and tales of juvenile crime. In the tradition of Asian films such as Made in Hong Kong(Xiang gang zhi zao) or A Chinese Youth(Qing hong), it portrays a youth caught between the margins and family responsibilities. The rising tension, urban setting and naturalistic approach could also appeal to fans of raw realism, in the manner of City of God(Cidade de Deus) or Gomorra.
Directed by Keff, Gangs of Taiwan is his first feature after several acclaimed short films at Asian festivals. Shot on location in Taiwan, the film was selected for Critics' Week at Cannes 2024, where it attracted attention for its raw tone and masterful direction. The screenplay is based on current social events, with the aim of painting an uncompromising generational picture. The music and photography, as yet undetailed, should reinforce this atmosphere of social tension.
Gangs of Taiwan promises to be a hard-hitting dramatic thriller, blending social portrait and criminal tension. Focusing on a mute young man torn between family and delinquency, Keff 's debut film explores powerful themes in a Taiwanese setting rarely seen on Western screens. Thanks to its selection at Cannes and promising direction, the film could appeal to audiences looking for stories rooted in contemporary Asian reality.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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