Unlike his earlier film A City of Sadness (1989) which I felt diluted its message concerning the White Terror through its oblique narrative methods, Hou Hsiao-Hsien's The Puppetmaster successfully examines the trials and tribulations of the Taiwanese people in the early 20th century by primarily focusing on a linear biographical narrative. The eponymous puppetmaster on whom the film is based, Li Tian-lu, even makes occasional documentary appearances to recount experiences in his life. As hypnotic and beautiful as Hsien's cinematography and mise-en-scène are, they can be challenging to watch for extended periods of time. So these touches of documentary filmmaking help keep The Puppetmaster fresh and engaging during its 2 1/2 hour run-time. But truthfully, I can't see myself running to revisit this film any time soon in the future. It is a wonderful work of art and I am genuinely glad to have watched it. But I found its slow pacing exhausting both physically and mentally.
9/10
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