“A Dance in Vain”: Minerva Pictures and Filmclub Distribuzione bring Lee Hong-chi’s new film to Italy.
5 September 2025
We are pleased to announce the Italian acquisition of “A Dance in Vain”, the new film by Taiwanese director Lee Hong-chi.
After his dazzling debut with “Love Is a Gun”, distributed by Minerva Pictures and awarded the Lion of the Future – Best First Feature at Venice 80, we continue to follow the talent of one of the most interesting and mature emerging filmmakers in Asian cinema.
The film will have its world premiere tomorrow, September 6, at 5:00 PM in Sala Corinto, as a special event of the 40th International Critics’ Week (SIC), at the Venice Film Festival.
An intense and mature work, the film delves into pain, memory, and resilience. It is also a personal project for Lee, who pours much of himself and his own experience into this portrayal of the prison of urban routine.
The story follows Monkey, a backstage assistant in a theater company, still marked by the loss of her partner Leo. Trapped in a suffocating daily life, Monkey seeks comfort, only to hear the same blaming response from others: “you should show more gratitude. You’re already lucky.”
As an independent production, the film is a striking confirmation of Lee’s talent and is aesthetically and visually powerful. We can’t wait to share it with you!
And for those who would like to catch up with “Love Is a Gun” in the meantime, it is available as an Exclusive offering on Rarovideo Channel, the boutique of auteur, rare, and experimental cinema on Prime Video!