Wei Te-sheng (魏德聖), director of the hit film Cape No. 7 (海角七號), said he was ready for his film to be a contender for Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, despite “a bit of a worry” about what the film’s overseas reaction would be.
“I am a little worried [how] the film [will be viewed] overseas. But, it’s OK. Everything is set. [We] should get onto the battlefield when the time comes,” Wei said.
Cape No. 7 is the most successful movie in Taiwan in years, grossing more than NT$231 million (US$6.9 million) since its release on Aug. 22.
In August, Cape No. 7 became a contender for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, which was first awarded in 1957.
To showcase the film on the international stage, the Executive Yuan yesterday played the film at the Government Information Office for foreign media correspondents stationed in Taiwan, followed by a press conference with Wei and the film’s main actors.
In a written introduction for the film’s Oscar bid, Wei said: “I hope that my movie will have the power to awaken childlike dreams.”
“In every small town like Hengchun (恆春) [where the story takes place] turmoil and stillness alternate, and in every old love letter as well, we hope to find our own youthful dreams of music, our dreams of love,” he said. “Although the search might be transient and lead to regrets and frustration, and although the quest might make us feel tired, it is also pleasant and worthwhile. In the end, this is what truly matters, what is of the utmost value — being proud of it and wanting to talk about it for the rest of your life is a truly wonderful thing.”
The film is about a failed rock musician who returns to his hometown and ends up playing as the opening act for a Japanese pop star and falling in love with a Japanese publicist.
A voice-over also tells the story of a Japanese man who fell in love with a Taiwanese woman, reading from love letters written by the man just after the end of World War II.
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