Arts Studies and Criticism

This paper analyzes the use of long takes in Hou Hsiao-hsien's films, pointing out that long takes are the iconic feature of his artistic films. Their use is not influenced by Bazin's theory or foreign film schools, but stems from his own artistic practice and literary nourishment, with his techniques evolving alongside his creative career. Inspired by the "distant overlook" narrative style in Shen Congwen's Autobiography, he established a calm and compassionate visual tone, which he initially put into practice in The Boys from Fengkuei and A Summer at Grandpa's. In his mature creative stage, works such as The Time to Live and the Time to Die and City of Sadness used long takes to convey family emotions and the weight of the era, while Goodbye South, Goodbye employed moving long takes to enhance dramatic tension, thus forging his unique visual style.