Released in 1985, this evocative period drama from Taiwan traces the relationship between free-spirited Li Lin and introverted Ai Hua, who grow up together in a military dependents’ village in the 1960s. Both teenage girls fall in love with their childhood friend He Kang, who becomes a pilot working alongside American flight instructor Michael (played by iconic pop singer Fei Xiang Kris Phillips). Exploring the four characters’ intertwined fates and spanning several years of Taiwan’s history, The Spring Outside the Fence depicts a culture in flux, showing how American music, fashion, and cinema are redefining everyday life, and new relationships are taking shape amidst the lively subculture of Taipei’s GI bars. Cherie Chung and Su Ming-Ming give tremendously affecting performances as the two women with an unshakeable bond.
Festival 2026
The Spring Outside of the Fence (竹籬笆外的春天)
Taiwan, 1985
Directed by
Li Youning
Li Youning
Running time
111 mins
111 mins
Tickets
26 May 2026, 8:30 PM
Past Event
BFI Southbank
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Additional info
With support from the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan and Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute (TFAI).
