The Time to Live and the Time to Die
Seen it?1985 | 136 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved Boyhood or The Fabelmans, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 16 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An autobiographical film based on Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien's memories of his youth growing up in Taiwan after emigrating from mainland China.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 11K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Yu An-shunAh Ha / Ah Hsiao
- Tien FengHou Fen Ming
- Mei FangMing's Wife
- Tang Ru-YunMing's Mother
- Hsin Shu-FenWu Shumei
- Hsiao AiHsiao's Sister
- Ng Siu-Ying
- Grace Chen Shu-Fang
- Hu Hsiang-Ping
- Lam Shung-Man