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The Story

Jiayu appears to lead a harmonious life with her multi-generational family in Taiwan. Yet, beneath this facade, unresolved family issues linger. As her son Bingmo heads to the UK for university, Jiayu seizes a final opportunity for connection. Accompanying him during his settling-in period, she yearns to mend their strained relationship and uncover the buried complexities within their family. 

Director's Statement

Drawing from my personal experiences within my close family, it's a common practice in many Taiwanese households for couples to rely on their parents for childcare while living together. However, increased involvement of parents-in-law can disrupt traditional family dynamics, leading to a shift in traditional family roles, resulting in disconnection, diminished sense of belonging, and a search for external identity.

For me, this family structure feels like a constant, subtle erosion of the core of the home. Loneliness and evasion act as impenetrable barriers, allowing connections to fade amidst the swirling dust of life's turmoil.

Therefore, through this story, I aimed to capture a mother's urgency to mend her relationship with her child after years of disconnection within this family structure. As her son approaches independence, it draws them out of escapism and embarks on a journey to a foreign land where they engage in a dialogue, revealing the hidden loneliness and emotions within their family. As the film unfolds, I no longer delve into the root causes of the family's breakdown; instead, I seek to convey the intricate and unresolvable nature of family dynamics.

Creative Approach

Visual Language
The film accentuate the mutual gaze between the characters through visual cues. Initially, this gaze is one-sided, symbolising the longing to connect with each other's hearts. Only when both parties are willing to meet each other's gaze and break the one-sidedness can the true barriers between their hearts in the relationship be dismantled.

Style and Tone

This story is set in the autumn, during the back-to-school season, and the colour palette will be inspired by the hues of this season. Furthermore, to symbolise the lingering tension between the mother and son and reflect the urban landscape of Taiwan, we'll incorporate shades of grey. As their relationship blossoms, vibrant colours will slowly breathe life into their world, dispelling the initial gloominess.

We seek to redefine the traditional Taiwanese home, moving away from classic depictions in films like "Yi Yi" and "Eat Drink Man Woman." While traditional apartment-style living persists in Taiwan, there's a notable trend toward modern residential design with new community buildings and contemporary interiors. Our goal is to highlight this modern Taiwanese home style, focusing on minimalism, spaciousness, and a contemporary vibe. This design highlights the paradoxical family isolation in a larger space, creating a poignant contrast.