Acting
Taipei, 1990s. Pizza boy JJ bumps one day into his ex-girlfriend Pony who is now pursuing a lesbian relationship with Mimi. On his first visit to the girl JJ gives in to Pony's seduction and makes love to her in the presence of Mimi who is seemingly asleep... Pony is now enjoying the secret excitement of her affair with JJ while Mimi tries hard to put up with it. But as days go by, JJ finds himself more and more obsessed with Mimi. At this stage none of the three is sure of what they want from love...
Doris simply wanted to open a refined, stylish coffee shop in a bohemian Taipei neighborhood, but when she's stuck with a load of useless gifts from the opening celebration, her younger sister Josie turns the café into a burgeoning bartering business. There, even a soulful song (by Japanese singer Atari Kosuke in a cameo) is a tradable commodity. One day, a traveler brings in 35 soaps from around the world with a story for each of them, awakening Doris' imagination about the outside world that she has never seen.
Tung-Ching’s life has changed since a car accident three months ago. The lifeline on his right hand was scratched off in this incident. A nurse told him that his life is no longer controlled by fate but has become unpredictable since then. Three months later, Tung-Ching’s father has suffered a stroke so he has to take over the family pawnshop. His girlfriend, Eiko, who is interested in palm reading, wants to retrieve Tung-Ching’s lifeline. However, Tung-Ching is apathetic to know what the future holds. He starts to flirt with one of his female customers who he names her “ Know-all”.
This film is a mix of documentary and drama, featuring interviews, acted scenes, and imaginative elements. It delves into Taiwan’s fashion scene and way of life, combining the perspectives of designers, workers, and consumers. The movie shows how individuals pursue ideals influenced by media and trends. Through its portrayal of fixations on youth, beauty, and consumerism, it raises the question: do we discover ourselves through fashion or lose our sense of self?
