Under the guidance of his long-time screenwriter Chu T'ien-wen, Hou uses these three stories to trace a social evolution. The progression of eras—from 1911 to 2005—charts an "axis of ever-increasing personal freedom" but also "growing complexity and communication problems". Each episode is ultimately about the limitations placed on love and desire by the age one lives in. The film’s Chinese title, Zui hao de shi guang ("The Best of Times"), adds a layer of Dickensian irony, suggesting that the "best" times are often only fully recognized in retrospect.
[Your Name] Course: Advanced Film Studies / East Asian Cinema three times hou hsiao hsien