Talking about movies
Last night I went to a promotional event at NTU for the soon to be released Taiwanese film Help Me Eros (幫幫我愛神). There was a screening of a documentary about the the Venice Film Festival and also the movie's trailer. Then there was a discussion session featuring the producer Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮), director and actor Lee Kang-sheng (李康生) and actor Fanny.
The new film Help Me Eros is sure to attract a lot of attention because it features betel nut beauties. The trailer looks colorful and erotic, but the movie deals with some dark and difficult themes.
Lee Kang-sheng said the movie, which he wrote, directed and acted in, is something he had been working on for over ten years. It deals with some themes that Taiwanese society has difficulty talking about like betel nut beauties and marijuana. He originally wanted to interview people for a documentary about these topics, but found people were unwilling because they were worried about the reaction from their families.
Tsai Ming-liang gave a fascinating talk about some of his thoughts regarding film making in Taiwan. He noted in 1999 he felt very disillusioned with the direction Taiwanese society was heading and he left Taiwan for a year. When he came back to Taiwan in 2000/2001 he had an experience where he saw a betel nut beauty in Taoyuan that inspired him to make films about Taiwan again.
He said that the image being used in the movie poster has attracted criticism from some women. However, similar images can be found in Ximending and other places in Taiwan but they are never even commented on. The purpose is to promote discussion.
Fanny from 女F4 is in the photo above. She makes her acting debut in the movie along with the other members of 女F4. Promoting a movie is hard work. Take a look at Tsai Ming-liang's blog which shows that after the event at NTU they went to Shi-Da night market to sell more tickets for the movie.
* Help Me Eros (幫幫我愛神) will be released in Taiwan on 11 January 2008.
Links
- Help Me Eros – official blog
- Bangbang wo aishen – Internet Movie Database
- Help Me Eros – trailer at YouTube
- Help Me Eros – review at Variety.com
Sex, marijuana and loneliness
2007 at the movies
10th Taipei Film Festival
Taipei Book Fair
Taiwanese cinema resurgent in 2008
Posted: December 7th, 2007 under Movies, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Comments
Comment from Fili
Time 7 December 2007 at 7:52 pm
Sounds very interesting. I’m guessing they won’t be having any English subtitles for the ignorant amongst us.
How do you find out about those things?
Comment from David Reid
Time 7 December 2007 at 8:50 pm
I am not sure about whether it will screen in Taiwan with English subtitles. It’s best to check when it is released.
I received an e-mail informing me about the event. I have no idea how I came to be on the mailing list for the e-mail though. They have been visiting university campuses around Taiwan over the last week or two.
Comment from Fili
Time 8 December 2007 at 11:31 am
Eh… any idea how I could get on that mailing list?
Comment from Prince Roy
Time 8 December 2007 at 12:48 pm
So what exactly is the film about? Still, can’t wait to see it. As to the two photos here, all I can say is that you chose the wrong subject to get in focus.
Comment from David Reid
Time 8 December 2007 at 8:23 pm
A short synopsis: A man contemplating suicide seeks solace at the local betel nut stand.
Comment from David Reid
Time 8 December 2007 at 8:27 pm
I’ll forward the e-mail to you. It is all in Chinese though.
Comment from Frostfox
Time 10 December 2007 at 5:36 am
I like how her name is Fanny. Like she needed any more help letting people know she is a whore.
Comment from David Reid
Time 10 December 2007 at 8:31 am
Frostfox, I really wanted to delete your comment, but I didn’t. I don’t like the language you use or the attitude it expresses. You might have opinions about Fanny and the way she earns a living, but there are far more intelligent ways to express them.
Comment from Frostfox
Time 10 December 2007 at 9:27 am
I agree with you that there are more intelligent ways to express it, but I still think it’s funny. Just look at her, busting out of her shirt, standing in front of a booth that looks like it sells pornos. If that doesn’t scream harlot, I don’t know what does. You do have a right to censor on your own blog though. I won’t take offense.
Pingback from Sex, marijuana and loneliness – Help Me Eros – movie review – David on Formosa
Time 13 January 2008 at 12:24 am
[...] wrote a preview of Help Me Eros (幫幫我愛神) last month after attending a talk by producer Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) and [...]
Comment from kuroren
Time 14 June 2008 at 10:36 am
I finished watching the movie right now!It was really a hard work to fin subtitle in chnese(at least)
but i liked a lot…
i think it’s a really subjective movie
Comment from cfimages
Time 7 December 2007 at 2:51 pm
I just watched the trailer and it brought to mind Catherine Breillat’s films. Not sure whether the entire film is in a similar style or not, but it looks interesting.