《悲情城市》上映前，由於是第一部劇情涉及到台灣政治最敏感的「二二八事件」爭議，直接挑戰當時台灣社會的禁忌話題，引發起各界人士矚目。然而，影片於義大利威尼斯影展榮獲最佳影片「金獅獎」的殊榮，成為首部在世界級三大影展內榮獲首獎的台灣電影，據信這是影片未遭禁演或刪剪的理由。
本片以臺北縣瑞芳鎮九份為主要場所，描述1945年台灣脫離日本統治，到1949年國民政府定都臺北的這段歷史，透過劇中林家四兄弟的遭遇，來訴說台灣光復後初期的社會情況與人民的生活樣貌，以及台灣統治勢力的轉變與政治環境的變遷。林家老大文雄把原有的藝旦間，重新開幕改名為「小上海」，在與上海人的衝突中被射殺；老二文森被徵去菲律賓當軍醫，至今杳無音訊；老三文良戰敗後被當成漢奸通緝，逃奔返台後卻發瘋了；老四文清與一批傾心社會主義的老師、記者朋友密切交往，然而二二八事件爆發，文清被捕，整個城市似乎悲情不已……。《悲情城市》上映後，觸發非常熱烈的迴響及討論，並帶動起拍攝場景九份的第二次繁榮，讓金瓜石地區成為台灣民眾與國外旅行團的遊覽勝地之一。
製片Producer
張華坤Hua-Kun Chang
從事電影事業已近三十年，為進軍國際市場之先驅。從1990年到1994年製作了《悲情城市》、《少年（吔），安啦！》、《只要為妳活一天》、《戲夢人生》等榮獲義大利威尼斯、法國坎城、瑞士盧卡諾各大國際影展大獎。
邱復生 Fu- Sheng Chiu
於1989年製作的《悲情城市》，是第一部贏得威尼斯影展金獅獎的台灣電影，1993年擔任《戲夢人生》製片。邱復生在台灣有“媒體大亨”之稱，事業版圖橫跨錄影帶、電影、電視、版權、音樂等，資歷完整。
The movie generated a lot of buzz prior to it release, for reasons that it was the first drama film to address a politically poignant and sensitive, historic issue, the 228 Incident. The film represented a blatant, direct challenge against the arguably biggest taboo in the political circle, and lured much attention. The film won the Golden Lion at the 1989 Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Taiwan made movie to pick up a top prize at one of the world’s three heavyweight film galas. According to sources, this was the reason why the movie was not banned, or censored.
It tells the story of a family embroiled in the tragic "White Terror" that was wrought on the Taiwanese people by the Kuomintang government (KMT) after their arrival from mainland China in the late 1940s, after Taiwan was freed from the Japanese rule; the film depicts the Lin family and its experiences during the White Terror.
The film was set in Jiufen in the township of Ruifang. It reflected the social context and people’s lives shortly after Taiwan retrocession through the encounters of the four brothers in the family, and it recalled the transition in political powers and authoritarian rule’s shift. The eldest brother, Wen-hsiung, is murdered by a Shanghai mafia boss as he reopened a Chinese opera house into a new establishment, called, “Little Shanghai.” The second eldest brother is drafted to the Philippines as a medical officer and remains unaccounted for. The number three brother is accused of being a turncoat and driven insane after returning to Taiwan. The youngest brother Lin Wen-Ch'ing is in close company with a group of socialist teachers and reporters. He was arrested as the 228 Incident erupted, and sadness of the city seemed endless. The film touched many people and gave rise to much discussion. It also revived the ghost town of Jioufen, where it was set, restoring the town’s past glory. Jiufen therefore became a tourist hot spot for local and overseas tourists.
九份、金瓜石 Jiufen, Jin Gua Shi
九份老街小上海茶樓(悲情城市)Jiufen’s Mini Shenghai Teahouse
昇平戲院 Thangbinh Movie Theater
阿妹茶酒館 A-mei Teahouse
