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The Falls (2021 film)

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The Falls
Theatrical release poster
Chinese瀑布
Hanyu Pinyinpùbù
Directed byChung Mong-hong
Written by
Produced by
  • Tseng Shao-chien
  • Arthur Chu
  • Tung Cheng-yu
Starring
CinematographyChung Mong-hong
Edited byLai Hsiu-hsiung
Music byLuming Lu
Production
companies
  • 3 NG Film
  • Oxygen Film
  • Mirror Fiction
  • Sunnano Biotech
  • Bossdom Digiinnovation
  • Sky Films Entertainment
Distributed bySony Pictures
Release dates
  • September 6, 2021 (2021-09-06) (Venice)
  • October 29, 2021 (2021-10-29) (Taiwan)
Running time
129 minutes
CountryTaiwan
LanguageMandarin
BudgetNT$70 million[1]

The Falls (Chinese: 瀑布) is a 2021 Taiwanese drama film directed by Chung Mong-hong and written by Chung and Chang Yao-sheng. It stars Alyssa Chia and Gingle Wang, with Sung Shao-ching, Liu Liang-tso, Lee Lee-zen, Yang Li-yin, Waa Wei, and Chen Yi-wen in supporting roles. It follows a mother and daughter who, after having to quarantine together during COVID-19, are forced to confront their personal obstacles and relationship tensions.

The film had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2021, and was theatrically released in Taiwan on October 29, 2021, by Sony Pictures. It received widespread critical acclaim and was selected as the Taiwanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[2] It earned eleven nominations at the 58th Golden Horse Awards, winning in four categories: Best Narrative Feature, Best Leading Actress (for Chia), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Film Score.

Synopsis

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When a classmate tests positive for COVID-19, high schooler Xiao Jing begins home quarantine. Her mother, Pin-wen, is asked by her company to take a leave of absence. Confined together, the already thorny mother-daughter relationship becomes strained. After several strange episodes, Pin-wen is hospitalized and diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Only then does Xiao Jing realize her mother is truly ill. Facing sickness, unemployment, and family debts, a cloud of difficulties looms over their future. Mental illness causes the mother and daughter's lives to swerve in unexpected directions, yet it also untangles threads that have long been twisted around their hearts. Pin-wen discovers that when she falls, the only one who can catch her is her daughter.[3][4]

Cast

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  • Alyssa Chia as Lo Pin-wen
  • Gingle Wang as Wang Jing
  • Lee Lee-zen as Wang Qi-wen
  • Chen Yi-wen as Mr. Chen
  • Liu Liang-tso as superintendent of the apartment building
  • Yang Li-yin as domestic helper
  • Chang Shao-huai as doctor
  • Hsu Wei-ning as doctor
  • Liu Kuan-ting as firefighter
  • Vent Teng as a customer of grocery store
  • Huang Hsin-yao as an employee of superstore
  • Queen Wei as Ru-yun
  • Sung Shao-ching as Mr. Chen
  • Waa Wei as Ru-xuan
  • Hung Xiao-ling as Qi-wen's second wife
  • Max Su as a news anchor

Production

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The story of The Falls was inspired by a friend of Chung's, whose daughter struggled with mental illness for a long time and then suddenly passed away in a tragic incident.[5] Chung cast two lead actresses based on a single conversation with each of them, meeting them only for the second time on the first day of shooting.[2] Principal photography began in September 2020 and was unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Chung also served as the film's cinematographer.[6]

Release

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The Falls premiered in the Horizons section of the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2021,[7][8] and had its North American premiere in the Special Presentations section of the 46th Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2021.[9][10] It was also screened at the 26th Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 2021, the 33rd Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 9, 2022, and the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival on August 17, 2022.

The film was initially scheduled for an October 8 release in Taiwan, but it was postponed to October 29, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] It was released on Netflix in over 190 countries on January 29, 2022.[11]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.[12]

Han Cheung of the Taipei Times wrote, "Despite the stunning cinematography, masterful use of mood and tension, relevant social commentary and great acting, the plot just feels flat, more like a winding stream than a waterfall. Every time it seems like something dramatic is about to happen, it doesn't, and even the most dire situations are solved without a hitch."[13] Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post described The Falls as "a mundane yet oddly engaging film that relies on Chia and Wang's quietly touching performances to sustain the narrative through bursts of unexpected drama."[14] Carlos Aguilar of the Los Angeles Times stated, "By the nature of streaming algorithms and content dumps, The Falls might go criminally under the radar but will profoundly surprise those who cross its uncanny sights."[15]

The film was selected as the Taiwanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards, marking the third time one of Chung's films had been chosen and the second year in a row.[16]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2021 58th Golden Horse Awards Best Narrative Feature The Falls Won [17][18][19]
Best Director Chung Mong-hong Nominated
Best Leading Actress Alyssa Chia Won
Gingle Wang Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Chung Mong-hong, Chang Yao-sheng Won
Best Cinematography Chung Mong-hong Nominated
Best Visual Effects Aben Lee, Peter Hsieh, Wang Yung-lun Nominated
Best Art Direction Chao Shih-hao Nominated
Best Makeup & Costume Design Hsu Li-wen Nominated
Best Original Film Score Luming Lu Won
Best Film Editing Lai Hsiu-hsiung Nominated
6th New Mexico Film Critics Awards Best Actress Alyssa Chia Runner-up [20][21]
Best Original Screenplay Chung Mong-hong, Chang Yao-sheng Runner-up
Best Foreign-Language Film The Falls Won
2023 29th Chlotrudis Awards Best Actress Alyssa Chia Nominated [22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jiang, Pei-yu (October 14, 2021). "賈靜雯、王淨《瀑布》演母女 鍾孟宏曝曾深感疑慮". China Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Brzeski, Patrick (December 13, 2021). ""This Film Is About the Process of Understanding Each Other": 'THR Presents' Q&A With 'The Falls' Director Chung Mong-hong". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Falls". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 December 2021. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pubu (The Falls)". La Biennale di Venezia. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (September 2, 2021). "Venice: Taiwan's Chung Mong-Hong on Reinventing His Whole Creative Process to Make 'The Falls'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Chow, Vivienne (September 8, 2021). "Venice: Chung Mong-hong's 'The Falls' is a Pandemic Drama With Timeless Relevance". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (July 26, 2021). "Venice Film Festival: 'Last Duel,' 'Dune,' 'Power of the Dog' and 'Spencer' Highlight Starry Lineup – Full List". Variety. Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (July 26, 2021). "Venice Film Festival: Pics From Schrader, Sorrentino, Larrain, Gyllenhaal, Campion, Scott & More To Light Up Lido As Studios, Netflix & (Hopefully) Stars Return – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (July 28, 2021). "Toronto Film Festival Unveils Contemporary World Cinema and Discovery Lineup". Variety. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Hipes, Patrick (July 28, 2021). "Toronto Film Festival Sets Contemporary World Cinema & Discovery Lineups; More Galas Added". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Huang, Yves (December 27, 2021). "過年在家也能看金馬獎大片《瀑布》！Netflix 1月29日獨家上架". Marie Claire Taiwan (in Chinese). Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Falls". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Cheung, Han (November 11, 2021). "Movie review: 'The Falls'". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Lee, Edmund (September 16, 2021). "Toronto 2021: The Falls movie review – pandemic drama by A Sun director Chung Mong-hong contemplates life's surprises and disappointments". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Aguilar, Carlos (January 29, 2022). "Review: A mother and daughter navigate COVID-19 and a changing family in 'The Falls'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  16. ^ "'The Falls' gets nod for Oscar bid". Taipei Times. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  17. ^ "58th – 2021 AWARDS". 台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Frater, Patrick (November 27, 2021). "'Revolution of Our Times,' 'The Falls' Triumph at Golden Horse Film Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  19. ^ Liu, Lyla (November 28, 2021). "'The Falls' wins big at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Taiwan News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  20. ^ 新墨西哥影評人協會（New Mexico Film Critics） (2021-12-12). "Best Foreign-Language: WINNER: "The Falls" (Taiwan)". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  21. ^ "6th New Mexico Critics Awards". cinemasight. 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  22. ^ "2023, 29th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
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