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a perfect slice-of-life about life itself; all-encompassing. it’s not that time repeats itself here, but love does, along with all of our human impulses. we fight with our family, hold onto stubborn luck, fall in and out of love, and suffer one tragedy after another. it’s the purity of trust that keeps us locked in step with each other, sometimes wordless but with boundless affection. perseverance is a given in this world; there’s no doubt about it.
at the end, Yang-Yang delivers his letter to his grandma as his family looks on. they’ve all been grieving for ages before this. NJ, standing behind his wife, goes to sit down—not beside her, but across the aisle next to their daughter. she silently spills a tear. he grips her hand with stoic affection. they all keep looking on, seeing the past, the present, and the future all at once.
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I saw this movie at the Music Box theater in Chicago with a friend years ago when it came out. Although it's almost 3 hours long, I remember feeling engrossed by exploring a Taipei, a city I know very little about, and the simmering family dynamics.
Rewatching it recently after borrowing the for-real DVD from the Brooklyn library (extra recommendation: borrow DVDs from libraries), the realization of my own getting older and family transitions gave me a more introspective feeling. Heavy, but not sad.
Feb 14, 2024
ok so yes this film is 3 hours. but I promise you it changes the way you see life from every point of life. its less about being in your 20s but more so how important life is at any time in your life, from a kid to a grown adult with responsibilities. i watch it once a year to remind myself that I can push on to be what I want to be in life
Apr 18, 2025
omg this movie. i love how slow and intentional it feels. the story is given room to breathe. scenes often feel like peeking into a moment that continues after the scene ends. we follow alan’s journey via a series of significant encounters, while not neglecting to appreciate and luxuriate in the long lonely days he spends on the road. the travel montages are beautiful golden and deeply midwestern. the lynchian horror element is very present but executed subtly. i felt the story was told with skill. my favorite scenes:
the very last scene, alan and lyle reunite. the suspense built to this moment is incredible. the air is thick with emotion. few words are spoken, yet so much is exchanged between them.
the hospitable couple chat in the kitchen. love is exchanged through gesture— she leans, chin first, limited in reach by her hands, which stay in the mixing bowl. he closes the distance with a kiss. she answers a question he didn’t quite have to ask. she treats the answer like it’s obvious— of course, extend generosity.
the conversation with the pregnant woman around the campfire. you need your family. you need strangers.
thank u iyes for projecting thank u ether for hosting
Apr 10, 2025
