Taipei Story

Taipei Story

Year: 1985

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: Chinese

DramaHumanity and the world around usMoving relationship storiesTragic sadness and captivating beautyPowerful stories of heartbreak and suffering

A restless young woman races through the tangled streets of modern Taipei, desperate to secure a future. She believes her boyfriend Lung holds the answer, yet he remains bound by memories of baseball and an old‑fashioned sense of loyalty, which compel him to waste his savings rescuing her father from financial ruin amidst the city's rapid change.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Taipei Story (1985)

Trace every key event in Taipei Story (1985) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Construction company turmoil and Ah-chen quitting

The construction company Ah-chen works for is about to be acquired and merged, creating job insecurity. When her boss Mrs. Mei leaves and no new position is offered, Ah-chen chooses to quit rather than become a secretary. This marks the first major shift in her professional life.

Pre-immigration planning Construction company office
2

Family confinement and escape plan

Ah-chen sympathizes with her mother who lives as a concubine to her irresponsible father. She resolves to break free from the confining family life and rents an apartment away from the house. Before leaving, she passes a spare key to Ah-lung, signaling a new degree of independence and a future with him.

Shortly after quitting Family home / apartment building
3

Ah-lung's background and ties to the city

Ah-lung runs a cloth shop on Dihua Street and is a former Little League World Series player, a detail that keeps him nostalgic for past glory. His local roots contrast with Ah-chen's modern ambitions. This setup highlights the cultural divide between them.

Present timeline Dihua Street
4

Immigration plan forms

Ah-chen and Ah-lung plan to immigrate to the United States together, aiming to join his brother-in-law's import business. Ah-lung is not eager to move, creating early tension about their shared dream. Their plan anchors the couple's hopes for a new life abroad.

Planning stage City / home
5

Ah-lung's return and friction about immigration

When Ah-lung returns from a visit to the US, Ah-chen grows frustrated by his passivity regarding their immigration plans. She wants decisive action, while he remains hesitant. The strain foreshadows the couple's growing distance.

After US trip Home / city
6

Ah-lung's generosity and the two worlds

Ah-lung is portrayed as conservative yet generous, going out of his way to help others. He assists Ah-chen's father by paying debts, helps a baseball teammate's gambling wife return home, and aids his former lover Ah-gwan with her divorce. His actions reflect loyalty but also a stubborn adherence to traditional values.

During ongoing conflicts City
7

Cultural clash and daily life

The film contrasts the modern, Western-leaning life of Ah-chen with the local, traditional world Ah-lung inhabits. This divide underpins their misaligned aspirations and decisions. Their divergent worlds become a recurring obstacle to their relationship.

Throughout the period City
8

Financial help to family and ambiguous romance

While Ah-lung debates the trip, Ah-chen helps her sister by funding an abortion and gives money to her mother to help pay her father's debts. She also keeps an ambiguous relationship with a married architect who claimed he would divorce. These choices deepen the emotional conflict and show Ah-chen navigating complex loyalties.

During immigration deliberations Apartment / sister's area
9

Discovery of Tokyo visit and breakup

Ah-chen learns that Ah-lung visited Tokyo to meet Ah-gwan on his way back from the US, prompting her to slap him. The confrontation leads to Ah-lung breaking up with her, signaling the end of their romantic partnership.

After Tokyo visit Ah-lung's trip / apartment
10

Ah-lung's downward spiral

Following the breakup, Ah-lung succumbs to gambling and drinking. He mocks a friend whose gambling wife killed herself, revealing a brittle, hardened distress behind his public stoicism.

After breakup City bars
11

Ah-chen finds solace with her sister's gang

Ah-chen finds some relief by spending time with her younger sister's delinquent gang, enjoying parties and bike rides. She also learns that the architect never left his wife, intensifying her sense of disillusionment. The group culture provides a counterpoint to her failing romance.

Midpoint Sister's group hangouts around the city
12

Crush, stalking, and attempted reconciliation

A young man from the sister's gang develops a crush on Ah-chen and starts waiting outside her apartment. When she asks Ah-lung for help at a karaoke bar, he accompanies her home and she begs him to marry her. Ah-lung declines, arguing that neither marriage nor immigration solves their problems.

Evening event Apartment / karaoke bar
13

Stalking confrontation and fatal ending

As Ah-lung leaves the apartment, the young man follows on a motorbike and later, on a road near Yangming Mountain, Ah-lung fights him. The assailant stabs Ah-lung, who staggers away and dies on the roadside. The killer escapes, and a trash pile with an old TV plays a news reel of Ah-lung's past glory.

Night of the attack; body found next morning Yangming Mountain road / trash pile
14

Ah-chen's uncertain future

Unaware of Ah-lung's death, Ah-chen accompanies Mrs. Mei to inspect a new office space for a US electronics branch. While Mrs. Mei is excited about prospects, Ah-chen remains introspective, staring out the window and contemplating her bleak future.

Following death Office space / building

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:46

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Unlock the Full Story of Taipei Story

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Taipei Story Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Taipei Story, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Taipei Story Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Taipei Story

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Taipei Story

More About Taipei Story

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