How Are You, Dad?

Pa,Ni hao ma?

Taiwan

2009

107 Min

Color

Mandarin, Taiwanese

Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
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CAST Fan Wing, Gao Meng-jie, Chang Chea, Jack Kao, Po Tai

A hardened gangster breaks down before his daughter, a young single dad takes refuge in alcohol, an elderly widower catches up with his absent son, a businessman puts his life on the line for his kids… Reflecting on the death of his own father, acclaimed Taiwan director Chang Tso Chi (The Best of Times, Butterfly) explores all that’s left unsaid in ten gentle, poignant short stories about father and child. Building on the themes of family and identity that have characterized Chang’s works, the anthology assembles a moving and realistic portrait of fatherhood, and the love, memories, and misgivings that come with the package. The film’s ensemble cast includes Jack Kao, Tai Bao, Winds of September’s Chang Chieh and Teresa Chi, and The Best of Times’ Fan Chih Wei and Gao Meng Jie. —yesasia.com

Director

Chang Tso-chi

Chang Tso-Chi was born in Jiayi, Taiwan, in 1961. He first majored in electrical engineering and went on to study film and drama at the Chinese Culture University, graduating in 1987. He first worked as a camera assistant and quickly became assistant director to Yu Kan-Pi, Yim Ho and Tsui Hark respectively. He was also Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s first assistant director on A City of Sadness (1988). Chang’s debut film, Ah Chung (1996), used a non-professional cast to demonstrate a special Taiwanese ceremony, Ba Jia Jiang (Eight Generals). This film won the Special Jury Prize at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and the New Currents Award at the Pusan International Film Festival, winning also the Best Director Award at the Thessalonika International Film Festival, and Grand Prix du Jury and Best Photography at Zhuhai Film Festival, China. Chang’s second feature, Darkness and Light (1999) won the Grand Prix, Tokyo Gold Prize and the Asian Film Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for Best… read more