Contemporary Taiwanese Cinema is often considered in two distinct movements.  The First Wave includes directors such as Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang, whose rich works evoked the naturalistic style of Italian Neorealism. In the 1990s, a second wave of filmmakers emerged including Tsai Ming-liang, Tso Chi-chang and Ang Lee who offer less nostalgic, more varied sketches of Taiwanese life. 

Although he came to filmmaking later in life, Lin Cheng-sheng is often associated with this second generation. Lin was born in 1959 in Taitung, Taiwan. After working for eleven years as a baker, he attended his first filmmaking workshop in 1984.  In collaboration with his wife, screenwriter Ko Su-ching, Lin produced three documentary films before moving on to his first narrative feature. A Drifting Life was awarded a Silver Medal in the Young Cinema Competition at the Tokyo International Film Festival and received special mention at the Cannes Film Festival. His second film, Murmur of Youth, was screened during Director's Week at the Cannes Film Festival and established his presence on the international film festival circuit.