Let's make this birthday one to remember.

78 years old (Born on April 08, 1947)

Happy birthday to the legendary Hou Hsiao-hsien! May your day be as beautifully composed and quietly profound as "The Puppetmaster," yet lighter than a floating red balloon drifting gracefully through Paris. Your films have taught us that life's greatest dramas often unfold in whispers, subtle glances, and lingering silences—though admittedly, our birthdays tend to involve fewer poetic pauses and more cake-induced chaos.

From pioneering Taiwan's New Wave cinema movement to crafting intimate masterpieces like "Flight of the Red Balloon," you've consistently reminded us that storytelling is an art best served gently simmered rather than explosively microwaved. Here's wishing you another year filled with cinematic brilliance—and perhaps fewer existential puppet metaphors!