There
is a different rhythm to life in the Quchi countryside. Chang Tso-chi acclimates
viewers to it far quicker than his ten year old protagonist. Kuan Hsiao-pao is
used to Taipei’s high speed internet, but a summer spent with his traditional
grandfather will have lasting significance in Chang’s A Time in Quchi (trailer here), which screens during this year’s Asian American International Film Festival in New York.
At
this point, Kuan is used to his parents’ chaos, so their likely divorce is not
exactly shocking. He will spend his summer vacation with his paternal
grandfather, so his folks will have more time to quarrel, but he is rather put
off by the old man’s highly structured lifestyle. He is also less than thrilled
when his chop-busting younger sister “Seaweed” arrives sometime later.
Since
this is Taiwan, kids still go to school even during summer vacation, so Kuan is
duly enrolled at the village primary school. Not surprisingly, he is initially
rather standoffish, but Kuan soon forms his first real friendship with Huang
Ming-chuan, an aboriginal classmate. Unfortunately, just as Kuan embraces
Quchi, tragedy strikes.
Quchi is a subtle and
wistful coming of age story that showcases some extraordinarily natural young
actors. However, it must be completely compartmentalized from Chang, who is
essentially the Taiwanese Polanski, except he is not being sheltered from justice
by the French government. Frankly, it is a little creepy to realize the
incident he was convicted for occurred at a party for Quchi, but that is not the fault of Yang Liang-yu and his co-stars.
While
Yang’s work might be too understated for those who like to bring their Fault in Our Stars branded hanky to the
movies, he keeps what could have been a saccharine melodrama feel mature and
grounded. He also rather graciously allows Lin Ya-jo to steal all of Seaweed’s
scenes. Nonetheless, it is veteran actor-screenwriter Kuan Yun-lung (a.k.a.
Kuan Kuan) who really gives the film its heart and integrity as the gruff but
wise grandfather.
