Taiwanese model turn actor Ethan Ruan and the cast of Taiwanese movie "When Love Comes" had plenty of reason to celebrate Saturday night after emerging as the big winners at this year's Golden Horse Awards.
Hailed as the Oscar-equivalent to the Chinese language film industry, the star-studded award ceremony is the most prestigious and highly regarded among movie makers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China.
The highly acclaimed family saga "When Love Comes, " which tells the story of a polygamous Taiwanese family, was named the Best Feature Film of the Year among the five nominated entries.
The 107-minute movie directed by Chang Tso-chi focuses on an uncharacteristic Taiwanese family in which the father, played by Lin Yu-shun, marries into his wife's family.
When his wife is found to be infertile, she permits him to take on a concubine whose eldest daughter ends up getting impregnated by an irresponsible boyfriend.
Though it won only three of the 14 categories in which it was nominated, the movie received rave reviews at the recent Pusan International Film Festival, where critics called it "a leap in aesthetic and artistic sophistication."
Heartthrob Ruan was the other big winner Saturday when he was honored as Best Leading Actor for his role in the blockbuster Taiwanese mafia movie "Monga."
Though his win was not a major surprise, Ruan successfully beat out three prominent Chinese actors for the honor in his first movie role, in which he plays a gangster on the streets of Taipei in the 1980s.
Chinese starlet Lv Li-ping trumped three well-favored contenders, including Taiwan's Sylvia Chang and China's Xu Fang, for the Best Leading Actress award for her role in "City Monkey."
The battle for Best Director left "When Love Comes" director Chang Tso-chi in utter dismay when the award was nabbed by Chung Mong-hong, the brain behind the tearjerker "Fourth Portrait."
The film also produced this year's Best Supporting Actress, Hao Lei, who played an estranged mother.
First-time actress Gina Li, who rose to fame in 2007 after being a contender on a television talent search show, won the award for Best New Performer for her role as a traveling show girl in "Juliet."
Taiwanese actor Wu Peng-fon scored one of the night's few upsets when he beat out Hong Kong heartthrob Nicholas Tse in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role as a Taoist priest in "Seven Days in Heaven," one of the year's biggest blockbusters.
"Seven Days," which delves into the parent-child relationship and the way death is seen in Taiwanese culture, also won the Best Adapted Screenplay category.
The 82-minute film "Hip Hop Storm" received the Best Documentary award for telling the inspirational tales of two generations of dancers and the uphill battles they faced in remaining loyal to their dreams despite all odds.
Director Ho Wi-ding bagged the Best New Director honor for his first feature film "Pinoy Sunday, " a comedy that deals with Taiwan's foreign labor force and the issue of emotional isolation faced by migrant workers in the country.
Television actress turned movie producer Lee Lieh was named the Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year for her work on the gangster movie "Monga."
Though one of Taiwan's biggest box office hits of the year, "Monga" was not nominated for Best Feature Film or even Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year, an award that went to "Fourth Portrait."
The Lifetime Achievement Award this year was given to Taiwanese director and producer Hsu Li-kung, who received a roaring standing ovation for his contribution to the Taiwanese film industry.
Hsu, 67, is considered to be an important mentor to many famed Taiwanese movie makers, such as Oscar winning director Ang Lee and Tsai Ming-liang.
"To us, Hsu is not only our boss, but our teacher, our best friend, and our most dedicated fan, " said Lee, saying it was Hsu's unwavering support and willingness to bet on him that was instrumental in shaping him into what he is today.
The night's second standing ovation was for Sun Yueh, the country's best-known volunteer and humanitarian, who won the honor of Special Contribution Award for his accomplishments in the film industry and for his devotion to various social causes in Taiwan.
The octogenarian started his movie career in the early 1950s when Taiwan's show business industry was just beginning to take off.
Sun quickly became a pillar of the industry by winning numerous domestic and foreign awards for his work. Upon his retirement in 1989, the former chain smoker became active in the country's anti-smoking campaign as well as many other social causes, such as hospice care, suicide prevention, and advocacy for abused children.
By: Jenny Hsu / From: Focus Taiwan
