A Sun
Nominated for 11 Awards at the Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan, A Sun deserves every single one of them. Foremost, the cinematography deserves every award available. The crispiness of the frames, the incorporation of light everywhere, and the position of the characters with the larger world bring unparalleled balance and emotion. The music captures the intimate moments from the sadness and comedy to the stillness and dynamic. Lin Sheng-xiang's composition heralds within the audience and me the optimism and possibility of change. Honestly, the characters were a major selling point. Wu Chien Ho's acting displayed nuance of a troublesome and misunderstood teen who wants to change his life for the better. His skills of the craft combined with Chen Yi-wen's portrayal of a stern and disappointed father created a believable atmosphere of tense father-son relationships all to familiar with many. Samantha Ko should not be disregarded however. One can clearly understand her character's struggle in maintaining the harmony of a family and being unabashedly supportive of everyone in her life. Chung Mung Hong's direction truly displays him as a master of his craft. He understand show to display dysfunctional families and their capacity to heal.