Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Screening – Goodbye South, Goodbye
The Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art presents a screening of Hou Hsiao-hsien's film "Goodbye South, Goodbye".
Where
Journeying through southern Taiwan from one poorly conceived scam to another, thirty-something Kao, his teenage protégé Flathead, and their girlfriends Hsi and Pretzel are "gangsters" in name only. They spend more time falling asleep and playing Nintendo than experiencing glamorous shootouts or obscene wealth. More clueless failures than violent outcasts, they want to get rich quick but are too confused—or too human—to be any good at it.
Taiwanese pop star Lim Giong (Flathead) contributes to the impressive soundtrack, but the landscape controls and frames the film. Viewed through train windows or alongside paved roads, it unveils the possibilities of routes that the characters remain hopelessly unable, or unwilling, to take.
Featured Articles
We note the passing of many prominent individuals who played some role in U.S.-China affairs, whether in politics, economics or in helping people in one place understand the other.
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?