Puppeteer Li Tian-lu tells his life story, and through it, the story of Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century.

In the first half of this century, young Li Tienlu joines a travelling puppet theatre and subsequently makes a career as one of Taiwan's leading puppeteers. During World War II the Japanese rulers of Taiwan use the traditional Chinese puppet theatre for their war propaganda. Only after the war street theatres start playing again.—Otto Oberhauser <[email protected]>