The Puppetmaster

Released Sep 13, 1993

2 hr. 22 min.

Drama

List

100%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

An 84-year-old man reminisces about his days as a puppeteer and when he was forced to work Japanese propaganda into his acts.

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Alec B

An interesting meld of a biopic and a documentary (of sorts). I've seen some people critical of the movie's stillness but as it does make you feel like you are sitting in a room with the characters which heightens the emotion in several scenes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting meld of a biopic and a documentary (of sorts). I've seen some people critical of the movie's stillness but as it does make you feel like you are sitting in a room with the characters which heightens the emotion in several scenes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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William L

Is it just me, or were there a lot of these long-form, highly regarded Taiwanese dramas made in the last 20-odd years of the 20th century that reflected on the turbulent history of the island? It seems that quite a few directors felt the need to convey their personal experiences from uncertain times in film, not that I'm complaining. The constant exchange of government oversight and its status as a major point of contention in modern geopolitics has led to some interesting film, particularly over questions of national identity and recurring personal tragedy. Now, The Puppetmaster specifically. Widely acclaimed at release and still retaining some considerable support in the last Sight & Sound poll, this Hou Hsiao-hsien biopic/drama seems to have fallen through the cracks a bit in recent years; it doesn't carry nearly the same level of international name recognition as films such as A Brighter Summer Day or Yi Yi, perhaps in some part due to its unusual subject matter (documenting the early life of Taiwanese puppeteer Li Tian-lu as a vehicle for the Japanese occupation of Taiwan) as well as an unusual structure - the film is a languid drama that is routinely intercut with modern, documentary-like footage of its subject providing recollections of his life, as well as several detailed scenes of puppet shows themselves. It's a distinctive approach to telling the story of social upheaval in Taiwan, with an emphasis on slow pacing. Is it the most overtly powerful drama? Probably not, but it is certainly a well-made and pointed one that makes a single character a focal point for the struggles of an entire nation under foreign rule. (3.5/5)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/21

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S R

1001 movies to see before you die. A different look at Taiwanese history and having been to the country it showed me a different perspective about the rural cities. Learning about Puppeteers in Taiwan was also informative and they did an amazing job. Overall, the story was a bit slow, but it taught me more about the Japanese occupation. It was on youtube.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/23

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Audience Member

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

This was such a uniquely satisfying film. It starts off a bit slow, but as the story progresses and Li Tienlu narrates his own life story the film becomes more and more endearing as a portrait of a man set to use his passion in ways he never expected (or even wanted). The film is a mixture of dramatized narrative with actual on screen storytelling and narration from Li himself. It's a great film for those looking for something different.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Hsiao-hsien Hou

Director

Li Tianlu

Self

Lim Giong

Li Tianlu (young)

Hwa Bai Ming

Ong Hsiu (grandmother)

Fue Choung Cheng

Li Tien Lu adolescent

Liou Hung

Li Hei (grandfather)

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Technically, The Puppetmaster is supremely beautiful to watch, with long shots, natural sound and scarcely a close-up on display. Emotionally too the film has a special power, since Li's story is hardly undramatic.

Feb 29, 2024

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J. Hoberman

The New York Review of Books

[Demonstrates] a profound and original sense of motion pictures as a way of exploring the passage of time.

Mar 28, 2017

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Hou Hsiao-hsien remains a master at conveying movement, progression, and a sense of the inexorable rotations of the wheel of time.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 19, 2005

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Michael Szymanski

Zap2it.com

Rated: 3/5

Sep 23, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Jun 19, 2005

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Leo Goldsmith

Not Coming to a Theater Near You

The figures of the puppetmaster's personal history become like his puppets, performing a repeated, stylized version of the past on a small stage.

Jul 1, 2004

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Synopsis

An 84-year-old man reminisces about his days as a puppeteer and when he was forced to work Japanese propaganda into his acts.

Director: Hsiao-hsien Hou
Executive Producer: Yang Dengkui, Zhan Hongzhi
Screenwriter: T'ien-wen Chu, Nien-Jen Wu
Production Co: Nian Dai International
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1993, Original
Sound Mix: Surround