A City of Sadness

Eldest Lin son who runs the bar Little Shanghai; a pragmatic, protective figure whose gambling-induced risks reflect a stubborn attempt to keep the family afloat. He embodies a sense of responsibility that is tested by the town's simmering violence. He is ultimately killed in a casino fight with a Shanghainese mob.

Fourth son, a photographer with leftist leanings; deaf from a childhood accident, close to Hiroe and Hiromi. He experiences political pressures, dreams of resistance, and marries Hiromi amid the era's upheavals; later his fate is tied to the crackdown on dissent.

The third son who, after working as an interpreter for the Japanese in Shanghai, returns home and becomes involved in illegal activities and smuggling with Shanghainese associates; he is arrested on charges of treason, tortured, and left mentally scarred.

A friend and ally of Wen-Ching who heads to the mountains to join leftist guerillas; embodies commitment to resistance even as personal costs mount.

Loves Wen-Ching; after Hiroe urges his return, she marries him and later bears a child, sharing in the couple's attempt to find stability amid conflict and dispersion.

A member of the Wu family visible in the neighborhood; his presence reflects the broader social webs and pressures outside the Lin household as the town undergoes political reordering.

Wu's mother, representing elder generations who bear witness to the social changes and who provide a bridge to tradition amid upheaval.

A character in the Wu circle whose presence adds to the neighborhood's social fabric; participates in daily life as the town unfolds under postwar pressures.

A neighborhood figure tied to the broader cast, reflecting cross-cultural ties and the era's international dimensions.

A supporting character who interacts with the Lin family and neighborhood dynamics during the postwar turmoil.

Journalistic presence that captures the events around martial law and mass violence; a symbol of the external gaze on Taiwan's turmoil.

A Wu family member who appears in scenes illustrating neighborhood life during the turbulence; associated with Hinome in the cast list.