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Tropical Fish

Original title: Re dai yu
  • 1995
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
664
YOUR RATING
Tropical Fish (1995)
ComedyDrama

Young boy, Ah-Jiang, a school failure and day dreamer witnesses the kidnapping of a child. After being taken hostage by a corrupt family, he begins an unusual adventure away from home.Young boy, Ah-Jiang, a school failure and day dreamer witnesses the kidnapping of a child. After being taken hostage by a corrupt family, he begins an unusual adventure away from home.Young boy, Ah-Jiang, a school failure and day dreamer witnesses the kidnapping of a child. After being taken hostage by a corrupt family, he begins an unusual adventure away from home.

  • Director
    • Yu-Hsun Chen
  • Writer
    • Yu-Hsun Chen
  • Stars
    • Akio Chen
    • Yi-fan Chen
    • Hsiao-fan Fan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    664
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Yu-Hsun Chen
    • Writer
      • Yu-Hsun Chen
    • Stars
      • Akio Chen
      • Yi-fan Chen
      • Hsiao-fan Fan
    • 2User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos9

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    Top cast7

    Edit
    Akio Chen
    Akio Chen
    Yi-fan Chen
    Hsiao-fan Fan
    Hsiao-fan Fan
    Pi-tung Lien
    Cheng-sheng Lin
    Cheng-sheng Lin
    Ching-Luen Shi
    Ching-Luen Shi
    Wen-Ying
    Wen-Ying
    • Director
      • Yu-Hsun Chen
    • Writer
      • Yu-Hsun Chen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    7.6664
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    Featured reviews

    10airportman

    All these innocent people!

    This comedy is unbelievable sweet. It describes an employed worker kidnapped a child in Taipei City, who is going to join the Great Exam for high school. So this worker and his family have to help this child read books, and also negotiate with Taipei in the same time. It talks about child's fantasies, a deserted sea village, the education system in Taiwan, the media, and all the innocent people. There are a sad and dark side just obvious, but it tastes sweet still.
    9gmwhite

    Taiwanese gem from new talent

    Having seen quite a few Taiwanese movies, I was interested in seeing how the films of the director Chen Yuxun compared to those of Tsai Mingliang or Hou Xiaoxian. 'Tropical Fish' compares rather favorably. It is much lighter than the works of his elders, and is very funny in places, though in no way a shallow, predictable potboiler.

    The plot, without giving too much away, deals with a mediocre student about to face national exams, who is caught up in a kidnapping. Needless to say, the kidnapping does not quite work out as planned.

    The impending exams loom large as the story progresses in a way that is both humorous and perhaps also critical of how these tests are of such paramount importance in determining education and career possibilities. There also seems to be some contrasting of Mandarin speakers and Taiwanese speakers which follows class distinctions quite closely. I quite enjoyed hearing Taiwanese spoken in such an earthy and piquant style. I hope Taiwanese directors continue to support its use.

    The plot moves forward in a controlled manner, avoiding predictability, and (with a few musical interludes) towards a quite satisfying conclusion.

    Having just the right mix of humour and social reality, I really enjoyed this one, and am looking forward to seeing the director's next film, Love Go Go.

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    Storyline

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    • Connections
      Featured in Murmur of Youth (1997)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • August 1, 1995 (Taiwan)
    • Country of origin
      • Taiwan
    • Languages
      • Min Nan
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • 熱帶魚
    • Production company
      • Central Motion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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