With romance in Kenting (墾丁), grassroots culture and a gang of lively local characters, Taiwan-China co-production Peace in Love (痞子遇到愛) would seem to have all the elements necessary to entice Taiwanese audiences into the theater. It also throws in a Chinese hero who undergoes an emotional transformation during his journey to southern Taiwan. The end result is a passable work of entertainment — if, that is, you are looking for a movie to watch over a lunchbox on a Tuesday night.
The film begins with Beijinger Wang Rui, played by Chinese actor Wang Rui (王睿), and his Taiwanese friend Tiancai (Yao Chun-yao, 姚淳耀) traveling to the picturesque coastal town of Kenting. They aren’t there to sightsee, but to sell a piece of land owned by Wang’s grandfather, a veteran of the Nationalist Army who lives in Beijing.
Upon arrival, the two discover that the plan can only proceed if 128 residents agree to give up their land. Mired deep in gambling debt, Wang is determined to pull off the lucrative deal at any cost. Throughout, the pair encounter a slew of colorful characters — tribal elder Gulele, sassy snack bar hostess Linniang and diving coach Macaron, who lecherously drools over women in bikinis.
Photo Courtesy of Love Check In International
The two men get what they want through underhanded methods. Or almost.
A local woman named Ouyang Qing (Shara Lin, 林逸欣) sees Wang for the con artist that he is and is dead set against selling the land. With a father who died at sea and a remarried mother, the young woman works two jobs to support her terminally-ill sister Xiaotian (Liu Ling-hsuan, 劉令萱).
Not knowing the sisters’ past and Xiaotian’s medical condition, Wang and Tiancai agree to take Xiaotian to visit her mother in Greater Tainan. But little do they know that the trip will end in tragedy.
Photo Courtesy of Love Check In International
Peace in Love is a comedy-drama built around the theme of land rights. Not without ambition, the film depicts not only the journey of a man learning the value of friendship and love, but of a woman, Qing, coming to terms with her past. The narrative, however, too often relies on conventional plot devices that underestimate the intelligence of the audience. Consequently, it’s little more than a polished television drama.
Produced by veteran TV producer Li Tien-yung (李典勇) and helmed by commercial director Huang Chao-liang (黃朝亮), the film enlists a troop of veteran entertainers — Lin Mei-chou (林美照), Jiu Kong (九孔), Shen Wen-chen (沈文程) and Hsiang Wa (向娃) — who are given little room to maneuver outside their one-dimensional, stock characters.
Fortunately, Chinese actor Wang as well as Taiwan’s Shara Lin and Yao liven up the film, delivering a sense of authenticity and exerting constraint in their stereotypical roles. First-time child actor Liu is also worth a mention with her natural, composed performance.
Photo Courtesy of Love Check In International
Photo Courtesy of Love Check In International
Photo Courtesy of Love Check In International
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