The Last Painting(HKAFF 2017)

Hailing from a rich family, politically-engaged student Yang Chieh becomes the flatmate of moody painter Jhong-ze. The two don’t get along at first, but when Chieh learns that Jhong-ze was once a political activist, she encourages him to bring politics back onto his canvases. This stylish new film by Chen Hung-I (Design 7 Love, 11th HKAFF) is a daring, philosophical, and fiercely intelligent genre bender that’s as inspired by the works of Brian De Palma as it is by recent developments in Taiwan’s political scene. Infusing art, politics, and sexual identity with a murder mystery at its core, Chen’s multi-layered work captivates your attention from the disturbing opening sequence and never lets go.