White Terror film ‘Foggy Tale’ sweeps Taipei Golden Horse Awards

白色恐怖主題電影《大濛》橫掃台北金馬獎

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The 62nd Golden Horse Awards were held Saturday night at the Taipei Pop Music Center, where “Foggy Tale” (大濛), a period drama set during Taiwan’s White Terror era, swept four major awards, per CNA.

Set in the 1950s, the film follows a young girl who enlists a former soldier turned rickshaw driver to help retrieve her brother, who was taken away during a crackdown on suspected dissidents. The story centers on her effort to reclaim the body of her executed brother, during which she forms a bond with the ex-soldier who helps her raise the money.

Director Chen Yu-hsun (陳玉勳) said he conceived the story from the perspective of a victim’s family after researching the White Terror period, which lasted from 1949 to 1992. The film depicts the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens under KMT rule as the government persecuted people it viewed as political threats amid fears of Chinese Communist Party infiltration.

Leading this year’s nominations with 11, “Foggy Tale” went on to win Best Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Costume Design, and Best Art Direction. It also won the Audience Choice Award, which is selected outside the main competition.

“This film belongs to the predecessors and forebears who protect us from above,” Chen said while accepting the Best Feature Film award.

The Best New Director award went to Lloyd Lee Choi (勞埃德李崔) for “The Road to Happiness” (幸福之路), a story about a Chinese immigrant who faces a series of misfortunes threatening his livelihood.

Tseng Jing-hua (曾敬驊) won Best Supporting Actor for “My Family’s Business” (我家的事). He was visibly emotional, crying from his seat to the stage, and said his biggest gain was breaking through a mental barrier he had carried into his acting.

Best Supporting Actress winner Vera Chen (陳雪甄) said it took her 17 years to reach the stage, dedicating her award to all supporting actors. The Best New Performer award was taken home by Ma Shih-yuan (馬士媛) for “The Left-Handed Girl” (左撇子女孩).

This year’s ceremony was held without a host. The opening video played on a gag from the film “96 Minutes” (96分鐘), portraying the Golden Horse trophy as a bomb being frantically passed around by nervous actors.

Hip-hop group MJ116 later appeared, urging filmmakers to reject fear and “focus on making excellent films.” The group transitioned from the video to the live stage, performing several hits.

Veteran actress Chen Shu-fang (陳淑芳), affectionately known as the nation’s “grandma,” received the Lifetime Achievement Award. She tearfully said she has been acting for 68 years, crediting her success to her own determination, her fans, and everyone she has worked with. “As long as there is love and passion in your heart, age is never a concern,” she said.