The Hole

"A search for intimacy in a world of disaster."

1998 1h 35m ZH

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 100

DramaRomanceScience Fiction

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the final days of the year 1999, almost everyone in Taiwan has died from a strange plague that ravished the island. As rain pours down relentlessly, a single man is stuck with an unfinished plumbing job and a hole in his floor. This results in a very odd relationship with the woman who lives below him.

“A search for intimacy in a world of disaster.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

OVIDSubscription

MetrographSubscription

Cast

Yang Kuei-mei
The Woman Downstairs
Lee Kang-sheng
The Man Upstairs
Miao Tian
The Customer at Market
Hui-Chin Lin
Neighbor
Lin Kun-huei
The Kid
Tong Hsiang-Chu
The Plumber
Chen Shiang-Chyi
(voice)
Daphne Han
(voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Writers: Pi-ying Yang, Tsai Ming-liang
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: Taiwan, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tsai Ming-liang, shot by Liao Pen-jung. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Grace Chang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hsiao Ju-kuan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yang Kuei-mei and Lee Kang-sheng and Miao Tian carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "A search for intimacy in a world of disaster.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tsai Ming-liang directs. Liao Pen-jung behind the camera. Grace Chang scores. Hsiao Ju-kuan cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Taiwan, France. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

128 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: Taiwan, France.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Tsai Ming-liang, shot by Liao Pen-jung. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Grace Chang. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Hsiao Ju-kuan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Yang Kuei-mei and Lee Kang-sheng and Miao Tian carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "A search for intimacy in a world of disaster.".
9IMDB entry: tt0156610 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "post-apocalyptic future", "musical", "lethal virus", "apartment building".