18 (film)

18
Official poster
Directed byHo Ping
Written by
Based on"God's Dice"
by Kuo Cheng
Produced by
  • Li Shu-ping
  • Lu Mu-tsun
Starring
CinematographyHo Ping
Edited by
  • Chen Po-wen
  • Chou Hsu-wei
Music byJim Shum
Production
companies
  • Creative Communication
  • Taiwan Film Culture
Release date
Running time
104 minutes
CountryTaiwan
Languages

18 is a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film directed by Ho Ping, written by Ho Ping and Kuo Cheng, based on Kuo Cheng's 1991 short story "God's Dice" (上帝的骰子).

The title refers to a popular Taiwanese gambling game played with 4 dice in a rice bowl, with the highest combination (called "18") containing 2 sixes and 2 of any identical number not six (i.e. 1166, 2266, 3366, 4466, and 5566).

Cast

  • Wu Hsing-kuo as "Weirdo", probably a second-generation immigrant from mainland China who is a little confused about his identity.
  • Lin Chi-lou as Weirdo's wife.
  • Lin Chia-chen as Weirdo's young daughter who is too mature for her age.
  • Lu Hsiao-fen as Mingzhu, a convenience store owner.
  • Lu Hsiao-fen as Ah Kiu, a hotel owner.
  • Tou Chung-hua as Ah Hai.
  • Chen Hui-lou as Ah Kiu's old husband who came from mainland China around 1949.
  • Sze Yu as Wu Sheng, an illegal immigrant from mainland China.

Awards and nominations

Award Category Individual Result
30th Golden Horse Awards Best Leading Actress Lu Hsiao-Fen Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Kuo Cheng, Ho Ping Nominated
Best Cinematography Ho Ping Nominated
Best Makeup & Costume Design Fu Chang-feng, Roger Cheng Nominated
Best Sound Effects Jim Shum Nominated

The film won International Federation of Film Critics Prize during the 1993 Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece.