Three Times (2005 Film)

Three Times (Chinese: 最好的时光; pinyin: Zuì hǎo de shíguāng) is a 2005 Taiwanese anthology film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. The film explores three distinct love stories set across different historical periods in Taiwan, with both lead roles played by actors Shu Qi and Chang Chen.

Promotional poster for the film Three Times

Production

The film was originally conceived as a collaborative project involving three different directors. When the production faced difficulties, Hou Hsiao-hsien took over the project, directing all three segments himself. This shift led Hou to adopt varied stylistic approaches for each story, resulting in a distinct visual and narrative tone for every segment.

Segments

The film is divided into three parts, each set in a different era:

A Time for Love (1966): Set in the 1960s, this segment reflects themes often found in Hou's earlier works, focusing on a contained, nostalgic melodrama.
A Time for Freedom (1911): Set during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, this portion is presented in the style of a silent film. The stylistic choice was partly influenced by the actors' difficulties with the classical Mandarin required for the period dialogue.
A Time for Youth (2005): Set in contemporary Taipei, this segment depicts modern urban life, accompanied by a score composed by Lim Giong.