Hi everyone!
It’s just me again today, as we catch up on a few Netflix Original films waiting for the Oscars this weekend. It’s our first film from Taiwan, and an interesting and stylish look modern life in their country. For a few other recent Netflix Original reviews, check out Shane Hyde’s recent reviews for “Ánimas” (Episode #405) and “Polar” (Episode #412), and Ryan L. Terry’s review for “Velvet Buzzsaw” (Episode #407). Or you can search using the Netflix and Netflix Originals blog tags at onemoviepunch.com.
And now...
Today’s movie is “Dear Ex”, the Netflix Original Taiwanese drama, directed by Chih Yen Hsu and Mag Hsu, and written for the screen by Mag Hsu and Shih Yuan Lu. The film begins three months after the death of Song Zheng Yuan (Spark Chen), when his wife Liu San Lian (Ying Xuan Hsieh) learns he changed the insurance beneficiary from his son, Song Cheng Xi (Joseph Huang), to his secret male lover Jay (Roy Chiu). A battle ensues for the insurance money, and uncovers multiple hidden truths about everyone involved.
No spoilers!
I always get excited when I get the opportunity to watch a film from another country. It gives me a peak into their culture and society. I definitely keep in mind that it is just one person’s or one company’s perspective, but I try to leave as many of my expectations at the door. All of this is amplified when it’s the first film from another country, especially a film dealing with social change. It also comes with some drawbacks, however, because sometimes the language can be culturally jarring, like hearing the equivalent of the r-word to describe people, or some incredibly violent physical interactions between adults and children, both of which feature in today’s film, and both of which challenge me to find the right aesthetic distance, because despite these issues, the film has a great many endearing qualities.
“Dear Ex” has a surprisingly progressive view on LGBTQ acceptance in a mostly traditional culture, one that is changing on a generational scale around the world, and one that struggles publicly with what characters like Song Zheng Yuan deal with individually, and often in secret. I really enjoyed the storytelling style for the film, as we accompany his son Cheng Xi seeking answers about his father, having found his mother’s answers lacking, partly because they are tinged with her own anger, but also because she doesn’t have all the answers. Cheng Xi’s scenes include some hand drawn scribbles overlaying the live-action frames to give everything a somewhat cartoon feel. We’re also treated to a number of flashbacks from different parts of Zheng Yuan’s life, each one giving more insight into all the characters, and a few times, radically changing our perspectives altogether. It transforms a simple premise into a delightfully complex story, with a full range of emotions along the way.
The cast all turn in great performances. Ying Xuan Hsieh takes Liu San Lian’s character from furious anger at the beginning to a reluctant acceptance at the end, with great range shown during each flashback. Roy Chiu’s performance of Jay expresses just as much of his story non-verbally, accenting his lines to tell a deeper story. If anything seems to lack, it’s Joseph Huang’s performance, which rarely shows any range outside sullen teenager, perhaps because the middle third of the film delves so heavily into flashbacks that Cheng Xi really becomes more of a supporting character, despite being our guide into this story. I’m not sure how to resolve that, but it was definitely something I noticed.
“Dear Ex” (2018) is a sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking film, that explores the role of LGBTQ individuals within Taiwan, culturally and socially. While the film has its flaws, it also has many strengths, including a mostly strong cast and some great editing. Fans looking for a gateway to the Taiwanese film scene, or folks looking for a film about LGBTQ acceptance, should definitely check out this film. Just be ready for a few jarring scenes.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Metacritic: NR
One Movie Punch: 7.7/10
“Dear Ex” (2018) is rated TV-MAand is currently playing on Netflix.
