NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (August 2025): Criterion has transferred two Edward Yang films to Blu-ray: A Confucian Confusion (1994) and Mahjong (1996.) Criterion advertises as "New 4K digital restorations, with 5.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks". Text screens before the presentation state:

A Confucian Confusion:
"This film was released in 1994, and its digital restoration was completed by Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute in 2020 as part of the “Taiwan Film Classics Digital Restoration and Value-adding Project" commissioned by the Ministry of Culture. The 35mm original camera negative was selected as the main source and the interpositive as the supplement to replace the serious damaged scenes for restoration. The condition of the film contains instability, warp, flicker, diffuse dust and dirt, some water stains and large tears involved multiple frames. Automated restoration was used to reduce the instability and flicker and to remove dirt and stains. The frame-by-frame manual process was carried out to remove water stains, splices, tears and residual defects."

Mahjong:
"This film was released in 1996, and its digital restoration was completed by Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute in 2023 as part of the "Taiwan Film Classics Digital Restoration and Value-adding Project" commissioned by the Ministry of Culture. The restoration was based on a 35mm original camera negative with 4K resolution. In the images, there are many molds and defects caused by aging and splices, such as flicker, tiny dirt, and stains. The film was scanned with WetGate in order to reduce the effects of molds. Automatic restoration was used to reduce instability, warping, flicker, dirt, and scratches. The frame-by-frame manual process was carried out to remove residual molds and defects and restore artifacts caused by the automatic process."

Yang's architectural eye in A Confucian Confusion informs static, wide-angle shots of Taipei's interiors, emphasizing spatial confinement and relational distances, capturing bustling offices and apartments in naturalistic lighting. Cinematographers Arthur Wong, Chang Chan, Li Lung-yu, and Hung Wei-hsiu collaborate to create immaculate framing with striking chiaroscuro lighting and shadows that obscure faces, symbolizing hidden motives and societal opacity, while evoking a sense of detachment akin to Yang's earlier works, like Taipei Story. Mahjong employs more dynamic camerawork with tracking shots through neon-lit streets and chaotic apartments, using vibrant colors to contrast the characters' moral grayness, while the score blends jazz and electronic elements for ironic tension. The Criterion Blu-rays are sourced from partially damaged negatives, presenting both films in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio on dual-layered discs with maxed out bitrate, resulting in film-like visuals that capture the bustling urban landscapes of 1990s Taipei with lovely tones and colors, free of significant artifacts or damage despite the challenging source materials.

NOTE: We have added 56 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion uses DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround tracks (24-bit) in the original Mandarin language. Sound design in A Confucian Confusion features overlapping dialogue and ambient urban noise, creating a cacophonous auditory landscape that mirrors confusion. Antonio Lee's (Yi Yi, his only other film work) sparse, pointed score - jazzy motifs sparingly deployed - punctuates ironic moments without overwhelming the arch, satirical dialogue delivered in flat Taipei cadences, blending Mandarin wordplay with references to Confucius and cultural icons for layered critique. Mahjong's sound design is multilingual and eclectic, interweaving Mandarin, English, French, and Hokkien dialogue with ironic banter and overlapping conversations that underscore cultural collisions and transactional relationships in a globalized Taipei. The lossless surround exports ambient urban hums (neon buzz, traffic, and mahjong tiles clacking) as metaphors for chance and deception, while Forward Records' jazzy-electronic score adds tension and counterpoint to comedic escalations. Separations are subtle but occasionally notable. Criterion offers optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-rays.

This Criterion Blu-ray release is enriched with a thoughtful selection of supplements, including 53-minute excerpts from director Edward Yang speaking after a 1994 screening of A Confucian Confusion, providing insights into his creative process; a new 26-minute interview with editor Chen Po-wen (A Brighter Summer Day) discussing collaboration with Yang; a new 3/4-hour conversation between scholar Michael Berry (A History of Pain: Trauma in Modern Chinese Literature and Film) and critic Justin Chang (FilmCraft: Editing) exploring the films' context in Taiwanese New Wave cinema; and a 45-minute performance of Yang’s 1992 play Likely Consequence, offering a glimpse into his theatrical roots. The Blu-ray package also includes a liner notes booklet with an essay by critic Dennis Lim (Tale of Cinema) and Yang's 1994 director’s note on A Confucian Confusion, all housed in a slipcase with new cover art by Tori Huynh, making it a comprehensive archival effort for fans.

These two Edward Yang films on Blu-ray work as mid-career ensemble comedies that satirize the rapid modernization and moral disarray of 1990s Taipei, blending intricate interpersonal webs with sharp critiques of capitalism, desire, and cultural identity. A Confucian Confusion critiques the misinterpretation of Confucian ideals in a capitalist society, where hierarchy and harmony devolve into hypocrisy and self-interest, inspired by Yang's observations of Taipei's burgeoning creative industries and his own experiences in theater. Themes of coupling under capitalism dominate with characters navigating desire and betrayal amid material pursuits, using symbols, like elevators for improbable connections and plays-within-plays to represent fabricated identities. Mahjong, set against the backdrop of global investment and urban sprawl, portrays Taipei as a millennial boom town rife with scams and cultural clashes, drawing from real estate speculation and the influx of foreigners, while echoing Yang's frustration with Taiwan's identity crisis amid mainland China's rise. Mahjong delves into urban alienation and transactional relationships in a globalized Taipei with themes of exploitation and insecurity symbolized by the titular game as a stand-in for life's gambles and deceptions. Both films share Yang's ensemble focus and satirical edge, critiquing 1990s Taipei's chaos, but A Confucian Confusion emphasizes professional hypocrisy through dialogue-heavy theater, while Mahjong opts for broader farce and underworld antics with shared themes of desire frustrating expectations in a commodified world. They form a diptych on urban disconnection with Confusion's introspection contrasting Mahjong's extroverted energy. The 2025 Criterion restorations have sparked renewed acclaim, highlighting their influence on Taiwanese cinema and global auteurs. A Confucian Confusion and Mahjong exemplify Edward Yang's genius in dissecting modern Taiwan's soul, using comedy to unveil profound disquiet, enduring as vital portraits of a society in flux. These are wonderful Blu-ray releases that addresses the long-standing scarcity of Edward Yang’s mid-period works on disc, particularly in the UK with its impeccable 4K restorations, solid audio, and insightful extras elevating these satirical gems to new appreciation. While the films' density may challenge casual viewers, this edition is a valuable addition for cinephiles, honoring Yang's legacy. Absolutely recommended.  

Gary Tooze