The opening scene of A Sun, the latest film by Taiwanese director Mong-Hong Chung and Best Picture winner at Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Horse Awards, contains an unexpectedly violent tragedy that establishes the tone for the remaining 150 minutes of the film. In this scene, which is interspersed with beautiful shots of nighttime Taipei and enhanced by calming string music, we see two young men enter a restaurant and, with a machete, chop off the forearm of another man. This shockingly violent and gripping beginning lets the audience know that A Sun will not allow its audience an easy viewing experience, and it prepares viewers for some of the more unexpected tragic moments that are sure to follow.
Continue reading “Review: ‘A Sun’ Shines as a Rich Family Drama”