As another reviewer already stated, there are certain universal truths that ring true to everyone, no matter where you are from or how you lived. Well for most that is - because family and the relationships therein are always complicated. There is always love of course (at least a little bit of that),but there is also a lot of regret ... how and where you go when one of the pieces go missing (expires/dies, however you want to put it).
It may confuse a little bit, but the drama is worth it. This is for everyone who likes things to be "real life" and feel as real as possible. Secrets get revealed, passions exposed and other things that were under the surface. Now while that might sound exciting and powerful - it is, but not in a strong fast way, but rather a slow paced burning ... if you can dig that, you'll love the movie. If not ... well it's obvious isn't it.
Plot summary
On Shoying's 70th birthday, she learns that her long-lost husband Bochang has died. The worse is that there is another woman Tsai, who stayed by Bochang till his last breath. A merry reunion turns into a wake, an unfortunately perfect time for the family to face their complicated mother-daughter relationships. Shoying decides to find out who Tsai is. Will Shoying get the closure she has longed for all her life?
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Movie Reviews
Life lived, life missed
Cinema Omnivore - Little Big Woman (2020) 7.1/10
"Among the three daughters, Ching, the eldest (play by Hsieh Ying-Hsuan, a Golden Horse winner for DEAR EX, 2019),has her own upward battle to fight and Hsieh beautifully exhibits her seize-the-day and devil-may-care spiritedness and most touchingly, the perpetual dread of morality, hidden, only bobbing up occasionally to the surface, but never fully morphs into schmaltzy, Hsieh's overall command is exceptionally excellent, especially in parallel with Vivian Hsu's second daughter Yu and Sun Ke-Fang's youngest daughter Jiajia (whose inconsiderate siding with her father is too annoying and contrived a plot designation),plus Ning Chang has a heartwarming cameo as another daughter who Shoying gave up in hardship."
read my full review on my blog: cinemaomnivore, thanks
It really hits me hard in the heart
Personally, I was very emotional throughout many scenes in this movie. Mainly because I am a Chinese to Canada immigrant. The countless words in English cannot describe what I felt and what I am feeling after I watched this film. I felt connected, and for the first time, emotionally invested in this film. Although it is a Taiwanese film, our culture is not too different. I felt warmth from this movie, sadness, nostalgia, and it was, in a sense, relatable. If I did not have the background I do, I wouldn't be giving this movie such a high rating. The plot wasn't especially exceptional, and a lot of things may be confusing. However, it really tugs on my heartstrings. It opens my eyes to family connections, about letting go, and really impacted me because of certain experiences in real life. Overall, I found this a great film, but that is a complete personal opinion.