Rebels of the Neon God

Hsiao Kang attends cram school and lives with his parents. In parallel, Tze and Ping are introduced as petty thieves, setting up intersecting storylines in the urban setting. The film begins to explore how ordinary life and crime coexist in Taipei.

After a night out, Tze returns to his flooded apartment, dealing with the messy aftermath. The scene conveys his unstable living situation and foreshadows the trouble ahead. The flooded apartment stands as a visual metaphor for the chaos of his life.

The next morning, Tze meets Kuei, a young woman who had a one-night stand with Ah Tze's brother. He offers her a ride on his motorcycle, pulling her into the day’s unfolding drama. Kuei's uncertain footing hints at the fragility of strangers' lives in the city.

Hsiao Kang's motorcycle is impounded, pushing him to accept a ride from his taxi-driving father. During the ride, Tze's traffic move results in the taxi’s side mirror being broken, tying their stories together in a moment of conflict.

That night, Tze, Ping, and Kuei go out, get drunk, and end with Kuei passed out in a hotel room. The two men leave her behind, showing a callous disregard for her welfare. This episode foreshadows the fragile trust that binds and breaks among them.

In the morning, Kuei calls Tze and asks to see him again. The simple act of reaching out rekindles a connection amid the characters' volatile lives. It underscores how quickly proximity can shift from indifference to longing.

Hsiao Kang makes the decision to drop out of school and receives a refund. He chooses to stay out rather than go home, widening the rift with his parents. This move marks a turning point in his personal disaffection.

Rather than returning home, Hsiao Kang stays out and spots Tze, following him for a while. The pursuit reveals his growing obsession and turns the city into a quiet arena for his fixation. The line between observer and participant blurs.

Later, Tze and Ping rob an arcade by removing motherboards from the machines. They operate with a reckless thrill, but their crime draws attention and danger. The act tests their bond and threatens to unravel it.

That night, after meeting again, Tze and Kuei end up in a hotel room, and they have sex. Kuei still resents being stood up, adding emotional tension to their encounter. The scene deepens the entanglement of their relationships.

Hsiao Kang finds Tze's motorcycle and vandalizes it, escalating the personal feud between them. When he tries to return home, his parents refuse to let him in, worsening his alienation. The vandalism and rejection compound the film's mood of frustration.

That night, Tze brings Ping back to his apartment in a taxi driven by Hsiao Kang's father. Kuei shows up, expressing a desire to run away with Tze, and they share an embrace. The scene cements the characters' entangled loyalties and tangled desires.

Hsiao Kang's father drives home and leaves the apartment door ajar, a small symbol of trust left open. Hsiao Kang later visits a phone dating service but does not answer any calls, leaving potential connections unrealized. The city keeps turning, with lives glancing off one another.