Father to Son

  • 115'
  • Taiwan
  • 2018

Stories from the past hide in the future. Or maybe the future actually lies within the past. Taiwanese director Hsiao Ya-chuan sketches a circle of evolution and development, with Van Pao-te as the central character.

On his 60th birthday, Van is told that he is seriously ill. But instead of going to Taipei for treatment, his illness leads him to Japan. Together with his son, he goes in search of the father who abandoned him 50 years ago. At the same time, a young man with a mysterious connection to Van's past is travelling from Hong Kong to Taiwan.

Filmmaker Hsiao started out as directing assistant to Hou Hsiao-hsien, who in turn was executive producer on all three of Hsiao’s films to date. Hou's influence is palpable once again in the calm and well-thought-out style of Father to Son. Like his mentor, Hsiao interweaves his family story with subtle elements of Taiwanese history.

Nominated for the VPRO Big Screen Award.

 

  • 115'
  • Taiwan
  • 2018
Director
Hsiao Ya-chuan
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Taiwan
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Van Pao-te
Language
Chinese
Producer
Hsiao Jui-Lan / BIT Production Co. Ltd.
Production Company
BIT Production Co. Ltd.
Sales
Ablaze Image Ltd.
Screenplay
Hsiao Ya-chuan
Cinematography
Lin Tse-chung
Production Design
Hwarng Wern-ying
Music
Summer Lei, Hou Zhi-jian
Cast
Michael JQ Huang, Chuang Kai-hsun, Fu Meng-po, Aria Wang, Wen Chen-ling
Director
Hsiao Ya-chuan
Premiere
World premiere
Country of production
Taiwan
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
115'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Van Pao-te
Language
Chinese
Producer
Hsiao Jui-Lan / BIT Production Co. Ltd.
Production Company
BIT Production Co. Ltd.
Sales
Ablaze Image Ltd.
Screenplay
Hsiao Ya-chuan
Cinematography
Lin Tse-chung
Production Design
Hwarng Wern-ying
Music
Summer Lei, Hou Zhi-jian
Cast
Michael JQ Huang, Chuang Kai-hsun, Fu Meng-po, Aria Wang, Wen Chen-ling