Miao Miao (2008)

Director:

Hsiao-tse Cheng

Writers:

Hsiao-tse Cheng (screenplay)
Yi-fen Tsai (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 November 2008 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Yung-yung Chang	...	Xiao Ai
Wing Fan	...	Chen Fei
Jia-yan Ke	...	Miao Miao

Runtime:

Taiwan:83 min

Country:

Hong Kong | Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | Taiwan:GP (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Taipei City, Taiwan

Company:

Block 2 Pictures

Movie Connections:

References Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

A Fluffy, Heavyhanded, but Watchable Diversion. You Could Do Much Worse.

I went into this movie not knowing anything about it, and I believe that that was in fact the best way, with no expectations. It has a lot going for it. The acting was good, and the actors themselves were likable. The plot, while simple, was solid, if not unique, and it had good, if not great pacing. it is a very Taiwanese movie, cinematically.

On the other hand, it is short, not even an hour and a half, when it could've had another twenty minutes, or forty if you removed a couple of the silly and extraneous parts. The film is also quite heavy handed in its homosexual themes which only hurts the story as the pseudo-homosexual relationships in the film are not functions of the plot nor contribute to it, but are repeatedly explicitly demonstrated. That is probably the most significant fault, a movie about relationships, focusing on gay relationships, where no one is explicitly gay, but just superficially interested in the same sex. Needless to say, it is a bit messy on that level.

It is cute, however, it is a love story that isn't really tragic, but in a way heartwarming. It is worth a watch, if only because it is still well made, and possibly entertaining.