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Back to list Reclaim (aka UNLOSABLE)

Director’s Profile

A graduate of Taipei National University of the Arts, with a BA in theater directing and an MA in theater studies, CJ Wang started her directorial career on the stage, before shifting to film. As a self-taught filmmaker, she is currently the most promising female director in Taiwan. As producer and screenwriter, her first short film, Thief (Jay Chern, 2011), won the Best Narrative Short Film at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, Taiwan; and over 15 awards from film festivals around the world. In 2012, her feature film project Coffee Sweet was shortlisted for the HAF/FOX Chinese Film Development Award, and as writer and director, her most recent short film Rowboat (2014) won top prize at the Taipei Golden Harvest Awards for Best Narrative Short, and was invited to the Busan International Film Festival.

Synopsis

When Nora’s husband of 35 years, Tom, finally retires, she quickly discovers that having her husband at home 24/7 is unlike anything she had imagined.

Adding to Nora’s distress, their black-sheep daughter, Emory, suddenly returns home as well, having decided to change her career path yet again; something of which her father does not approve. Nora is caught in the middle of the father-daughter battle, and is unable to please either side.

Nora decides to use Tom’s retirement funds to purchase an apartment for her daughter, but her actions result both in Tom’s fury and Emory’s protests that her mother is attempting to tie her down. Forced to renege on the deal, Nora attempts to get her payment back, only to discover that she has been scammed and has lost all of the original investment. Keeping this devastating secret from her husband and daughter only intensifies Nora’s inner turmoil, pushing her closer and closer to breaking point.

Setting out for groceries one day, Nora unconsciously follows a billboard advertising a vacation resort, driving onto the freeway, further and further away from home, her husband, and daughter. During a solitary night, the three toss and turn in their respective beds. Nora makes a decision for herself, leaving her family the chance to reflect on their evolving selves.

Achievements

2020 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
2022 New York Asian Film Festival
Released in Taiwan

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