A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

Edward Yang's A Brighter Summer Day is a four-hour, 237-minute epic of youth and rebellion set in 1960s Taipei, following a teenage boy caught between rival street gangs and political oppression. Based on a true crime, the film uses over 200 roles to depict a fractured society after the Kuomintang's arrival. It was restored in 2016 but originally released in 1991, during Taiwan's martial law era, lending it raw urgency. Cheaper than the typical restoration cost at only $1.2 million for the digital version, it offers a denser, more immersive experience than #3 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, though its length demands greater commitment.