Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Yen & Ai-Lee 小雁與吳愛麗 - Taiwan

Taiwan | Drama | 2024 | 107 minutes

In Mandarin w/ Chinese and English Subtitles

Director/Screenwriter: Tom Shu-yu Lin

Starring: Kimi Hsia, Yang Kuei-mei, Sam Tseng, Kipin Ng

Film Source: Lights On Film

INTRO and Q&A with director Tom Shu-yu Lin and actress Kimi Hsia

SYNOPSIS:

Yen returns to her village after serving eight years in Pr*son for killing her abusive father. However, Yen learns that her mother is dating yet another abusive man. Will Yen finally take agency of her life, or will she forever be dragged down by the burden of family?

Tom Shu-yu Lin navigates the love-and-hate nature of mother-daughter relationships with this compelling drama about the desire for reinvention and the trauma of abuse. Intricately constructed and beautifully shot in black-and-white, the film also features terrific performances by Lin’s wife and muse Kimi Hsia and screen legend Yang Kuei-mei.

Tom Shu-yu Lin, Director

Tom Shu-Yu Lin (林書宇) blends his Taiwanese and American upbringing into a unique cinematic style, showcasing a rich tapestry of cultural influences in his work. His directorial journey began in 2008 with "Winds of September," which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. This was followed by "Starry Starry Night" (2011), a film adaptation of the beloved book by celebrated illustrator Jimmy Liao. In 2015, Lin's "Zinnia Flower" starring Karena Lam received critical acclaim at Busan International Film Festival and garnered a Taiwan Golden Horse Award for Best Actress. 

In 2019, Lin helmed "The Garden of Evening Mists," a collaboration between HBO Asia and Astro Shaw based on the renowned Malaysian novel of the same name. Premiering at the 24th Busan International Film Festival, the film was lauded with 9 Taiwan Golden Horse Awards nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director.

Host or Publisher Asian Pop-Up Cinema