Medialuna

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

Taipei (In Competition), Montreal, Warsaw (In Competition), Geneva Cinema Tous Ecrans (FIPRESCI and TITRA FILM AWARDS), Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Mannheim-Heidelberg

 

SYNOPSIS

Xiao-Zhun's world is like the elevator she operates in a department store: static, polite, low-key. When she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, the shy girl decides to find a better home for her pet blowfish. A lonely baseball coach purchases the blowfish at an internet auction. He is waiting in his trashed home for his wife, who left him. When Xiao-Zhun takes the Blowfish across town to his house, they make passionate love in the surreal blue light of his aquarium. She stays with him, but their love staggers like a blowfish… until one day, the Coach finally wants to learn this girl’s real name.

 

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
"A trembling sorrow"... I don't know why, but this thought ran through my head throughout the filming of Blowfish. Is it because the blowfish swims with both humour and grace? Or because it stares through eyes both fresh and awkward? It gradually became a kind of symbol, a delicious poison, a contradiction. It's tricky. Love is tricky.

 

DIRECTOR'S BIOGRAPHY
Lee Chi-Yuarn is a widely acclaimed writer and poet in his native country Taiwan and works as an assistant professor at the National Taipei University of Arts Film Department. After a few short films he wrote the award-winning script for his first feature film HURRICANE FESTIVAL, which won several prizes at international film festivals. Also his following feature films, CHOCOLATE RAP and BEAUTIFUL CRAZY, have been successful world wide and received numerous awards. His film BLOWFISH is continuing its successes!

 

CAST BIOGRAPHY
Vicci Pan trained in acting at Taipei National University of the Arts under Director Lee’s supervision. She participated in several short film productions. In her feature debut BLOWFISH she has been nominated for the Most Promising Newcomer and Best Actress awards at Taipei Film Festival. Her charisma and expressive subtlety have already begun earning her numerous accolades.
                         
Wu Kang Jen is an up-and-coming star in Taiwan. Under Director Lee’s supervision, he trained in acting and improvisation at Taipei National University of the Arts. Before moving into films, he was one of Taiwan’s top models. He was nominated for the Most Promising Newcomer and Best Supporting Actor awards for MIAO MIAO at the 2009 Taipei Film Festival. In 2010, he starred in the popular TV drama AUTUMN'S CONCERTO.

 

CAST

Xiao-Zhun: Vicci Pan
Coach: Kang Jen Wu
Goldy: Yi Ching Lu
Flora: Angel Yao

Xiao-Zhun’s Boyfriend:  Hong Xiu Wu
Aquarium Owner: Fernando Hsieh
Xiao-Zhun’s Coworker: Yi-Ping Cheng
Noodle Stand Owner: Chien Cheng Chen
Blacksmith: Chu Lin
Mushroom Girl: Hsin Pei Wu

CREW

Director: Chi Yuarn Lee
Producer: Li-Fen Chien
Writers: Chi Yuarn Lee, Vicci Pan
Director of Photography: John Han
Editor: Chi Yuarn Lee
Music: Yoshihiro Hanno
Production Company: Happy Pictures Co., Ltd.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Original Title: Blowfish / Red One (4K HD) / 2.35:1 / Colour / 88 min / Dolby SRD / Mandarin with English subtitles / 35mm & HDCam available / Taiwan 2011