Question 1

True or false: He is known for using fast-paced editing and rapid camera movements in his films.

Accepted Answer

False. His signature style involves long static takes, minimal cuts, and slow pacing—the opposite of fast editing.

Question 2

True or false: Tsai Ming-liang has directed a Bollywood-style musical comedy.

Accepted Answer

False. He is known for slow, minimalist films with long takes and sparse dialogue, never musicals.

Question 3

True or false: Tsai Ming-liang’s films often feature the same actor, Lee Kang-sheng, as a recurring character.

Accepted Answer

True. Lee has appeared in every Tsai feature since his debut, often playing a version of himself.

Question 4

True or false: Tsai Ming-liang originally trained as an actor before becoming a filmmaker.

Accepted Answer

True. He studied drama and performed in theater and TV in Taiwan, which shaped his minimalist, performance-driven style.

Question 5

True or false: He won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for his film 'The River'.

Accepted Answer

False. 'The River' won the Silver Bear at Berlin, not Cannes. He never won the Palme d'Or.

Question 6

True or false: His 2013 film 'Stray Dogs' features a scene where a character eats a raw cabbage for five minutes straight.

Accepted Answer

True. The long take of a father eating a cabbage is iconic for its raw intensity and durational realism.

Question 7

True or false: He retired from feature filmmaking after 'Stray Dogs' in 2013, focusing on short films and installations.

Accepted Answer

True. Tsai declared retirement from feature films, but continues making shorts, VR works, and gallery pieces.

Question 8

True or false: Tsai Ming-liang is also a prolific opera director, having staged works in Europe and Asia.

Accepted Answer

True. He directed operas like 'The Walk' and 'The Last Eden' for the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center.

Tsai Ming-liang Trivia Questions