Director Hou Hsiao-hsien halts career amid battle with Alzheimer’s

Director Hou Hsiao-hsien halts career amid battle with Alzheimer’s

2023-10-25

Award-winning director Hou Hsiao-hsien is halting his career due to Alzheimer’s. According to his family, Hou was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s some time ago, and his condition worsened after he contracted COVID. Due to his health complications, he has suspended all work projects to focus on rest and recovery. The news has sent shockwaves through the film industry.

Shih Che
Culture minister
Director Hou’s influence on Taiwan’s film legacy is tremendous. This happens to be the 60th year of the Golden Horse Awards. At this time, let us all come together in care and concern and offer up our good wishes.

Janine Chang
Actor
When I heard the news, I was stunned. I want the director to be well, because he is such an important figure in the film world. I very much wish for him to continue his craft. Of course I also feel that, the thing I want most for him is good health. I have always felt that he is a very warm person and industry luminary. He’s always exuded positive energy, so I want things to go well for him.

The 76-year-old Hou is a three-time Golden Horse award-winner for best director. Throughout his career, he’s played a key role in introducing Taiwan to global audiences. His works include "A City of Sadness," which won the Golden Lion award at the 1989 Venice Film Festival. His masterpiece "The Puppetmaster" won the Jury Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. In 2015, he was crowned best director at Cannes for his wuxia film "The Assassin."

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家屬證實侯孝賢罹患"阿茲海默症" 工作已喊卡

2023-10-25

76歲國際級台灣導演侯孝賢遭外媒報導，罹患失智症，也不會再拍電影，家屬也在今天下午發聲明，表示侯孝賢先前診斷出罹患阿茲海默症，但並未影響他對電影的熱忱，直到後來確診新冠後，後遺症連帶影響病情，目前工作已經暫停，完全回歸家庭、安心休養，消息一出震撼影壇。

[[文化部長史哲]]
“侯導在台灣的電影史上，有非常重要的影響力，今年剛好即將來臨的金馬60，我想我們是不是，大家都一起來關心、關懷，獻上祝福”

[[演員張鈞甯]]
“聽到滿震驚的，就是希望導演可以好好的，因為他是電影圈很重要，很重要的人，我們很希望他可以一直再拍下去，當然我覺得也是，最希望的是他身體健康，一直覺得，他是一個很溫暖的長輩，然後給大家都有很大的能量感，所以希望他一切都好”

曾榮獲三屆金馬獎最佳導演獎的侯孝賢，是把台灣電影帶向國際的重要推手，1989年的《悲情城市》奪下威尼斯影展金獅獎，1993年憑借《戲夢人生》獲得第46屆坎城影展評審團獎，2015年以《刺客聶隱娘》獲得第68屆坎城影展最佳導演獎。

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Izumi Hiroyasu
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