10 Films you shouldn’t miss at the 6th Taiwan Film Festival in Australia 2023

By Asian Film Festival on July 17, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

These are five shorts and five feature films you shouldn’t miss at the Taiwan Film Festival in Australia which will take place from July 20 until August 20, 2023 across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart.

– Feature Films –

**Bad Education** by Kai Ko – Taiwan | 2022 – 75 minutes | Australian Premiere

On the night of their high school graduation, three juvenile delinquents gather at their usual hangout spot to bid farewell to their fleeting youth. In an effort to solidify their bond and maintain their so-called brotherhood, they make a pact to share their deepest and darkest secrets, ones that have remained hidden from everyone else. As the night progresses, the game of daredevilry they find themselves embroiled in takes unexpected and dangerous turns, revealing that the true test of their loyalty has only just begun. (TFFA 2023)

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**Coo-Coo 043** by Chan Ching-Lin – Taiwan | 2022 – 135 minutes | Australian Premiere

Seven years ago, Master Ching’s race pigeon 043 represented his sole chance of winning a race, but to his dismay, it never returned, much like their missing son Shih. However, years later, pigeon 043 mysteriously reemerges at their house, rekindling their fading hopes. As the family members find themselves consumed by the depths of reality, they begin to lose their way. Set against the backdrop of the tranquil mid-southern Taiwanese subtropical countryside, infused with the richness of traditional folk culture, the film seamlessly blends elements of realism, creating an allegorical depiction of the land.

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**Little Blue** by Lee Yi-Fang – Taiwan | 2022 – 97 minutes | Australian Premiere

After experiencing an unprecedented and unpleasant incident caused by her classmates, Xiao-Lan embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery through a dating app, delving into her sexual desires. As she explores this realm, the game of exploration takes an unexpected turn, becoming a catalyst for a profound wake-up call. Xiao-Lan is compelled to justify her actions and face herself, leading to an epiphany. Only through this pain can she experience true metamorphosis and a real awakening.

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**Mama Boy** by Arvin Chen – Taiwan | 2022 – 98 minutes | Australian Premiere

Xiao-hong, on the verge of turning 30, lives a highly regimented lifestyle with his mother and struggles to find confidence in interacting with women. One day, he encounters a mama-san named Lele, who is around the same age as his mother. Suddenly, an inexplicable deep affection ignites between the two. As they wander through dark alleyways under the starlight, their enigmatic connection is short-lived, disrupted by the interference and judgement of outsiders. Are they seeking true love, or are they two wandering souls yearning for solace and comfort?

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**Miss Shampoo** by Giddens Ko – Taiwan | 2023 – 120 minutes | Australian Premiere

Set against the backdrop of a stormy night, the paths of A-Fen, a trainee hairdresser, and A-Tai, a charismatic gang leader, intertwine unexpectedly through a fateful accident. A-Tai becomes captivated by A-Fen’s kindness and is determined to ensure her success. However, burdened by the pressures of his brotherhood, A-Tai finds himself entangled in a quest to uncover the truth behind their boss’s murder. Caught between these two contrasting worlds, A-Tai faces a profound dilemma—can he find solace and trust both in A-Fen’s embrace and within the confines of his brotherhood?

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– Short Films –

**A Night with Moosina** by Tsai Shiu-Cheng – Taiwan | 2022 – 26 minutes

On a night illuminated by the full moon, a ten-year-old girl in a remote village is enticed by Moosina to venture into a cave nestled within the mountains. It is there that she unravels the secret behind why the mountain demon consistently plays malicious tricks on children.

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**Boys on the Bridge** by Zhang Bu-Yi – Taiwan | 2023 – 43 minutes

One day during the summer vacation before high school, Lil Fish decides to skip the orientation and spend time with his buddies instead. Lil Fish believes that their lives will never change, but an unexpected event on that day opens his eyes to the fact that he and his friends are embarking on divergent paths towards different futures.

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**Duet** by Su Pei-Yi – Taiwan | 2022 – 25 minutes

A mother grapples with the loss of her dignity in front of her daughter, while the daughter Chung Yi struggles to find the strength and compassion to fulfil her dying mother’s care requirements. The film delves into the complex dynamics of their relationship and explores the profound emotional challenges that arise as they navigate this difficult journey together.

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**Impurrfection** by Yao Chiang – Taiwan | 2022 – 13 minutes

Mr. Cat, plagued by aquaphobia, has been gripped by an overwhelming fear that prevents him from participating in the zodiac race, which could have fulfilled his lifelong aspiration of becoming the Guardian God of the Year. Instead, he has resignedly lived near the sea, yearningly gazing at the race’s destination day after day, for countless years, plagued by regret.

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**Tui Na** by William Duan – Australia | 2022 – 15 minutes

A seventeen-year-old boy grapples with the challenge of reconciling his emerging queer identity with the cultural expectations and filial duties imposed by his Chinese immigrant mother.

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