•• Foreign Film Edition ••
聽說 [HEAR ME]
[2009, TAIWAN - Mandarin]
Produced to align itself with the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei, director CHENG FEN FEN's HEAR ME is a seemingly plain vanilla of a romantic comedy, but an endearing one with a touching message. Tian-Kuo (EDDIE PENG) is a carefree young man who delivers lunch boxes from his parents' restaurant, and finds himself smitten with Yang-Yang (IVY CHEN) when he meets her during one of his deliveries to a local hearing-impaired swimming team. He soon learns that Yang-Yang spends most of her time supporting her sister, Xiao Peng's (MICHELLE CHEN) dream of competing in the Deaflympics, so much so that she has to work multiple jobs and practically devoting her entire life for her sister, which makes Tian-Kuo falling even more. As Yang-Yang's feelings gradually grow for her pursuer, it somehow brings upon a rift in the sisters' relationship.
The film may deliver a straight-forward plot in a garden variety of romantic comedy cliches, it stays true to its inspiration as most its dialogue is carried out in sign language. Both the pair of leads are equally convincing, and the push and pull between Tian-Kuo and Yang-Yang becomes surprisingly affecting to watch. Also engaging are Tian Kuo’s parents (LIN MEI-SHIU and LUO BE-AN), whose presence added good humor to the story. One of director Cheng's feats is presenting the film which captures Taiwan’s urban charm exceptionally well and focusing on the lower-class protagonists that will warm up to the audience pretty well. HEAR ME defied expectations and went on to become the highest-grossing and most talked-about Taiwan film of 2009.
Rating: B-
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