In just six short years, legendary Taiwanese comedian HSU Pu-liao created a box-office phenomenon that reshaped local comedy. To mark the 40th anniversary of his final film, The Clown and the Swan (1985), the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) will host the world premiere of its digitally restored version on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the institute’s Outdoor Plaza in New Taipei City.

This screening celebrates TFAI’s annual restoration achievements and invites both new audiences and longtime fans to rediscover the humor, humanity, and tragedy behind the “HSU Pu-liao phenomenon” that once swept Taiwan’s entertainment world.

A Comedic Legend’s Rise and Tragic Fall

“HSU Pu-liao is dead!” — on July 4, 1985, Taiwanese newspapers ran this shocking headline in bold white letters on a black background, reflecting the sudden loss of a beloved yet troubled performer.

Trained in circus acts and magic as a child, HSU began performing in cabarets and television shows before transitioning to film. His exaggerated physical comedy and natural charisma made him a household name in the early 1980s. Yet fame came at a cost. His guaranteed box-office draw attracted the attention of the criminal underworld, and the grueling pace of nonstop film shoots, compounded by alcoholism and drug dependency, took a devastating toll on his health.

➤HSU Pu-liao applies clown makeup in the black-and-white opening scene of The Clown and the Swan. (Courtesy of TFAI)

HSU passed away just as The Clown and the Swan was released. Ironically and poignantly, the film became the biggest box-office hit of his career, with audiences across Taiwan laughing and crying through his final performance. As one reporter described, “That summer, every cinema in Taiwan became HSU Pu-liao’s memorial hall.”

TFAI’s 100th Restoration: A Mirror of Life and Art

Marking TFAI’s 100th restoration project, The Clown and the Swan tells the story of A-kun (played by HSU Pu-liao), a washed-up entertainer, and A-chu (played by CHEN Hsiu-chen), a cabaret dancer, who fall in love while struggling through the highs and lows of show business. Their story mirrors HSU’s own life—a blend of laughter and sorrow.

Director Kevin CHU recalled, “In the opening scene, I used black-and-white footage of HSU putting on his clown makeup. I had never used black and white before, and even now, I still wonder why I made that choice—it feels almost fated.”

CHU and HSU first collaborated on The Clown (1980), launching both to fame. Over the years, they made five films together, forming one of the most iconic partnerships in Taiwanese cinema. CHU also vividly remembered real gangster disruptions on set: “Men once stormed the studio with samurai swords—it wasn’t just a rumor.” What moved him most, however, was HSU’s professionalism: “Even with a broken leg, and his body covered in injection marks and infections, he insisted on finishing the shoot.”

➤Director Kevin CHU praised HSU Pu-liao: “His tragicomedy performances were absolutely first-rate.” (Courtesy of TFAI)

A Glimpse of 1980s Taipei

“He could make people laugh just by sitting there,” said Kevin CHU. “He was a born comedian, full of emotion and vulnerability. His tragicomic acting was truly first-rate.”

Beyond its performances, The Clown and the Swan offers a rare time capsule of 1980s Taipei. The film features now-vanished landmarks such as the Taipei Children’s Recreation Center, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei Botanical Garden, Chunghwa Market, Rixin Theater on Ximending’s cinema street, Banqiao Datong Water Park, and even illegal housing along Ren’ai Road. These once-familiar cityscapes will come alive again on the big screen.

Free Outdoor Screening for UNESCO’s World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

In celebration of UNESCO’s World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, TFAI will host a free outdoor screening of the digitally restored The Clown and the Swan on Friday evening, October 24, 2025.

The event will feature live clown performances, director Kevin CHU in attendance, and free commemorative gifts and light refreshments. Audiences are invited to relive the brilliance of HSU Pu-liao—Taiwan’s “Charlie Chaplin”—on the big screen once more.