Still Thinking About 'A Brighter Summer Day'...

Okay, international film buffs, I finally saw 'A Brighter Summer Day' (1991) and wow, it's definitely stayed with me. Clocking in at almost four hours, it's a commitment, but it really sucks you into 1960s Taiwan. This director... I wish I knew their name because they really knew how to make a movie about a kid's life. The story follows Xiao Si'r (I think that's how you spell it?) as he navigates school, street gangs, and first love. It felt so realistic, almost like a documentary in parts! What really struck me was the atmosphere. The film does a masterful job creating a suffocating sense of tension and injustice. The scene where Xiao Si'r is forced to hold ice cubes in his mouth as punishment? Brutal. And the whole dynamic with Honey and Ming... so complicated! I wasn't always sure what was going on, with the gang stuff especially, but that kinda added to the feeling of being lost in this world, the same way Xiao Si'r probably felt. I think the length actually helped it a lot in that way. You felt the slow burn of the summer and the growing pressures building on these kids. I gotta say, I'm still processing it. It's not a film with easy answers, and the ending...ugh. So tragic. But that rawness, that feeling of being thrown into the deep end of adolescence, really resonated with me. Has anyone else seen it? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Especially if you can explain some of that gang rivalry stuff better than I can! Maybe I'm overhyping it, but it really is impactful. One little side note, the copy I watched was really grainy. Does anyone know if there's a good restoration out there? I'd love to see it again in better quality. I bet that would enhance the already great visuals!