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Three Times

Play trailer Poster for Three Times 2005,  2h 10m,  Romance/ LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 86% 51 Reviews Tomatometer 71% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Three romantic tales take place in different eras. In "A Time for Love," set in 1966, a soldier (Chen Chang) meets an alluring pool-hall hostess (Shu Qi). "A Time for Freedom," set in 1911, focuses on a courtesan's relationship with a man during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In "A Time for Youth," set in 2005, a singer forsakes her female lover for a photographer.
Three Times

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Slowly paced, understated, and exquisitely shot, these are three lovely odes to love and longing.

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Critics Reviews

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David Parkinson Empire Magazine Aug 4, 2006
3/5
This is a fascinating exercise in utilising style to make subtle psychological and political statements. Go to Full Review
Digby Lewis BBC.com Aug 1, 2006
2/5
Hsiao-Hsien reinforces his excellent cinematography with a bold use of music, featuring The Platters' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, but ultimately the running time could have been halved and he would still have made his point. Go to Full Review
Moira MacDonald Seattle Times Jul 14, 2006
3.5/4
An emotional journey, a showcase for two fine actors, and a multifaceted picture of love. Go to Full Review
David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Feb 15, 2021
Hou has seemed at sea since Flowers of Shanghai ... In his films in the 1980s an element of social protest was present, consciously or otherwise; this has largely been replaced by nostalgia. Go to Full Review
Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Dec 4, 2016
The first of the three stories is the best., with good visual style. Go to Full Review
Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Aug 30, 2009
Lambent Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Harry S Jun 12, 2017 Brilliantly acted and shot first and, to some extent, second parts were ruined by the stagnant third story.
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Three Times

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Hsiao-hsien Hou

Director

Shu Qi

May

Chang Chen

Chen

Mei Fang

Old Woman

Liao Su-jen

Madam

Di Mei

May's mother

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Three Times

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Movie Info

Synopsis Three romantic tales take place in different eras. In "A Time for Love," set in 1966, a soldier (Chen Chang) meets an alluring pool-hall hostess (Shu Qi). "A Time for Freedom," set in 1911, focuses on a courtesan's relationship with a man during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In "A Time for Youth," set in 2005, a singer forsakes her female lover for a photographer.
Director
Hsiao-hsien Hou
Producer
Chang Hua-fu
Screenwriter
Chu Tien-wen
Production Co
Sinomovie.com
Genre
Romance, LGBTQ+
Original Language
Chinese
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 2006
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$151.7K
Runtime
2h 10m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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