Hailed as “a leap in aesthetic and artistic sophistication” by a leading film critic, a Taiwanese film about a complex, polygamous family struggling with societal issues garnered rave reviews at this year’s Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), which runs through today in Busan, South Korea.
The 107-minute film When Love Comes (當愛來的時候) focuses on an uncharacteristic Taiwanese family in which the father marries into his wife’s family. When his wife is found to be infertile, she permits him to take on a concubine whose eldest daughter ends up getting impregnated by an irresponsible boyfriend.
The film outlines a complex love-hate relationship between a woman and her daughter, who despises her mother as nothing but a baby-making machine. Directed by Chang Tso-chi (張作驥), who is no stranger to the international movie scene, the film is scheduled to premier in Taiwan on Oct. 29. It is also expected to dominate next month’s Golden Horse Awards after bagging 14 nominations, including Best Feature Film and Best Cinematography.
Hollywood Reporter’s chief reviewer Maggie Lee applauded the movie, saying it was arguably the best among Chang’s repertoire and describing it as a “visually splendid and life-affirming” film that “reflects the Chinese philosophy of letting water pass under the bridge.”
Festival executive programmer Kim Ji-seok was also enamored with the film, applauding it as the best Asian film presented in the history of PIFF, one of the most esteemed film festivals in Asia since its inception in 1996.
The 15th edition of the festival began on Oct. 7.
The movie will also soon make its mark in Europe at the 54th British Film Institute London Film Festival which runs from Wednesday to Oct. 28. Besides When Love Comes, two other Taiwanese films will be part of the London event — Taipei Exchanges (第36個故事) and A Bright Summer Day (牯嶺街少年殺人事件).
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