

The Time to Live and the Time to Die
An autobiographical film based on Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien's memories of his youth growing up in Taiwan after emigrating from mainland China.
Where to watch The Time to Live and the Time to Die in United States
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About The Time to Live and the Time to Die
The Time to Live and the Time to Die is a 1985 Chinese-language drama film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien. The cast is led by Yu An-shun, Tien Feng, Mei Fang. It has a runtime of 2h 16m. Viewers rate it 7.3/10 across 100 ratings.
The Time to Live and the Time to Die was produced by Central Motion Picture Corporation and made in Taiwan. It was released on August 3, 1985, and carries a PG certification.
- Director
- Hou Hsiao-hsien
- Writers
- Hou Hsiao-hsien, Chu Tien-Wen
- Release date
- August 3, 1985
- Original language
- Chinese
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Taiwan
- Production
- Central Motion Picture Corporation
The Time to Live and the Time to Die cast & crew
The Time to Live and the Time to Die was directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien and written by Hou Hsiao-hsien and Chu Tien-Wen.
The cast features Yu An-shun as Ah Ha / Ah Hsiao, Tien Feng as Hou Fen Ming, Mei Fang as Ming's Wife, Tang Ru-Yun as Ming's Mother, Hsin Shu-Fen as Wu Shumei, and Hsiao Ai as Hsiao's Sister.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Chang Hung-Yi, cinematography is by Mark Lee Ping-Bing, and it was produced by Hui San-Chi.
Is The Time to Live and the Time to Die worth watching?
The Time to Live and the Time to Die holds an audience score of 7.3/10 from 108 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 16m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama, The Time to Live and the Time to Die is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Time to Live and the Time to Die
The Time to Live and the Time to Die isn't currently available on major streaming services in United States. We track availability continuously — add it to your watchlist and we'll keep an eye out.
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Cast of The Time to Live and the Time to Die

Yu An-shun
Ah Ha / Ah Hsiao

Tien Feng
Hou Fen Ming

Mei Fang
Ming's Wife

Tang Ru-Yun
Ming's Mother

Hsin Shu-Fen
Wu Shumei

Hsiao Ai
Hsiao's Sister
Ng Siu-Ying

Grace Chen Shu-Fang
Hu Hsiang-Ping
Lam Shung-Man
Chan Hon-Man
Kao Chung-Li
The Time to Live and the Time to Die — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Time to Live and the Time to Die in United States?
The Time to Live and the Time to Die is not currently available on major streaming services in United States. Availability changes often — check back soon.
▸What language is The Time to Live and the Time to Die in?
The Time to Live and the Time to Die is originally in Chinese. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Time to Live and the Time to Die?
The Time to Live and the Time to Die runs 2 hours 16 minutes (136 minutes).
▸What is The Time to Live and the Time to Die rated?
The Time to Live and the Time to Die is rated PG. It holds a 7.3/10 audience score from 108 ratings.











