4K 'Osmanthus Alley' Premiere Opens Taiwan in Focus at MIFC

A new 4K restoration of Chen Kun-hou's "Osmanthus Alley," featuring its original Taiwanese-language soundtrack, had its world premiere at the Lumière Festival on Oct. 12, according to the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI). The screening leads the Taiwan in Focus program at the International Classic Film Market (MIFC), the industry arm of the Lyon festival.

Chen Kun-hou and the film's star, Lu Hsiao-fen, attended the premiere. The restoration was made from the film's original 35mm negative, with missing frames filled from an interpositive. The audio was drawn from the 35mm Taiwanese sound negative, and Tu Duu-chih, who handled the film's original sound mix, returned to help restore the Taiwanese soundtrack from six primary audio reels.

The restoration brings back the film's original Taiwanese-language soundtrack, which had been replaced by a Mandarin version at the time of its release. The film is adapted from a novel by Hsiao Li-hung.

TFAI said it is seeking international distribution and programming partners for Taiwan's restored classics through the showcase. Release terms and timing remain under negotiation.

Restoration Work and Context

The premiere comes as TFAI continues its restoration program. In 2023, Chen Kun-hou received a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Horse Awards. Earlier in his career he worked as a cinematographer, winning a Golden Horse for "He Never Gives Up" in 1978, and from 1979 he worked closely with Hou Hsiao-hsien.