The Falls (瀑布) by Chung Mong-hong (鍾孟宏) is Taiwan’s selection to vie for a Best International Feature Film nomination at the 94th Academy Awards, the third time one of the director’s films has been chosen and the second year in a row.
Upon being informed that his feature film would have the chance to be nominated for an Oscar, Chung — a 55-year-old with six directorial works — said: “Thank you. We will keep working hard.”
A panel convened by the Ministry of Culture’s Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development selected The Falls from among 11 candidates, praising its accurate and deep portrayal of reality.
“Visual metaphors and human relations are depicted vividly,” the ministry said.
The previous two films of Chung’s that were selected were Soul (失魂) in 2013 and A Sun (陽光普照) in 2019, with the latter being critically acclaimed and shortlisted for the this year’s Academy Awards, although it was ultimately not nominated.
Set during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Falls follows a 17-year-old who is sent home to quarantine after a classmate tests positive for COVID-19 and her mother, who is asked to take a leave of absence.
The two are isolated in their apartment, which is wrapped in blue construction tarp amid renovation work.
Their relationship takes an unexpected turn.
The Falls premiered in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival, followed by an screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It received 11 nominations at the 58th Golden Horse Awards, including Best Feature Film and two Best Leading Actress slots.
“To me, this film is not about the pandemic, or the virus. The pandemic is only a backdrop,” Chung told Variety in an interview.
“I wanted to make a film about the search for something that we have long lost or forgotten, like trust or tolerance. Those really good, precious things in life that have gone missing,” he told the magazine.
It is the first time he has told a story from the perspective of female characters.
“The casting of the two female leads was a big gamble,” Chung said.
“Although the pandemic has pulled us apart, people need to think about how to get closer,” Chung said, adding that he hopes The Falls generates discussion about interpersonal relations, Chinese-language media quoted him as saying.
SEND A MESSAGE: Sinking the amphibious assault ship, the lead warship of its class, is meant to show China the US Navy is capable of sinking their ships, an analyst said The US and allied navies plan to sink a 40,000-tonne ship at the latest Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise to simulate defeating a Chinese amphibious assault on Taiwan. This year’s RIMPAC — the 29th iteration of the world’s largest naval exercise — involves the US, 28 partners, more than 25,000 personnel, 40 warships, three submarines and more than 150 aircraft operating in and around Hawaii from yesterday to Aug. 1, the US Navy said in a press release. The major components of the event include multidomain warfare exercises in multiship surface engagements, anti-submarine warfare and multi-axis defense of a carrier strike
Taiwanese could risk being extradited to China when traveling in countries with close ties to Beijing, Taiwan Association of University Professors deputy chairman Chen Li-fu (陳俐甫) said on Friday. Chen’s comments came after China on Friday last week announced new judicial guidelines targeting Taiwanese independence advocates. Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Djibouti are among the countries where Taiwanese could risk being extradited to China, he said. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday elevated the travel alert for China, Hong Kong and Macau to “orange” after Beijing announced its guidelines to “severely punish Taiwanese independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession.” Extradition treaties
A new message broadcast on the Taipei MRT’s Wenhu (Brown) Line urging passengers to yield their seats to those in need, not necessarily elderly people, would be extended to other MRT lines and public transportation in the capital, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said yesterday. Chiang was responding to reporters’ questions on the sidelines of a news conference at Taipei City Hall promoting healthy walking. Several disputes over priority seats on public transportation have recently been reported, sparking debate about who qualifies to sit in them, as most of the cases involved elderly people asking young people to give up their
The airspace around Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) is to be closed for an hour on July 25 and July 23 respectively, due to the Han Kuang military exercises, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The annual exercise is to be held on Taiwan proper and its outlying islands from July 22 to 26. During last year’s exercise, the military conducted anti-aircraft landing drills at the Taoyuan airport for the first time, for which a one-hour no-fly ban was issued. Based on a live-fire bulletin sent out by the Maritime and Port Bureau, the nation’s