APM - Asian Project Market

2023 Project

Logline

A tiger hides in the city. A-Niu strives to find it a home. Eventually, he transforms into a tiger, but ultimately must let go of the tiger’s heart.

Synopsis

A-Niu, an immigrant from Southeast Asia, travels to Taiwan with his father in order to take care of a circus, but overwhelming debts ultimately force him to naturalize in Taiwan and join the military. Unable to communicate effectively, he is seen as a slacker. During the Chinese New Year break, he is punished with restricted leave and must train to perform the lion dance at a celebration banquet to earn extra money, all while receiving bad news from home. Helpless, A-Niu diligently continues learning the lion dance and offering prayers.
Time has passed. As A-Niu stands atop a pickup truck protesting; he delivers a speech in his thick accent, and although the audience below cannot understand him fully, they cheer along nonetheless. Yet, the faint growl of a tiger can be heard in the background; a feeble sound devoid of strength.
One day the tiger finally sees the daylight, but is still confined in a cage, hung upside down or bound to nearby iron pillars. A-Niu′s voice reaches its ears: “Remember where home is. When you see humans, run!”
Time has passed, and A-Niu returns home, puts his daughter on his shoulders, and thinks of the swaying motion of the lion dance.

Director's Statement

Through black humor and flashbacks, I want to take the audience on a journey into Taiwan’s past and use ellipses to show the bewildering scenarios that arise from cultural clashes even in the pursuit of a simple existence.
A-Niu finds his identity in street protests as Taiwan begins to open up to democracy. The uncertain destiny of his circus tiger, entwined with his own, personal journey of discovery, becomes a mirror in which present Taiwanese identity is revealed.
Amidst awakening consciousness over land and human rights, a surreal melody emerges from the fabric of realism, where the passage of time engulfs lost dreams, leaving behind the enchantments of childhood fantasies.

Producer's Statement

The film combines real events with Taiwanese writer Wu Ming-yi’s short novel, Grandfather Tiger; using magical realism and black humor to create a historical tale which will resonate with audiences and stir their emotions, empathizing with the characters and depicting a crucial time in Taiwanese history through the coming-of-age story of its protagonist.
We believe Hsu Chao-Jen, one of the most successful drama directors in Taiwan, is the best companion for Wu Ming-yi’s narrative, deeply rooted in everyday Taiwanese life, and with his bittersweet approach to life and cinema, we hope Hsu will create a unique dramatic depiction of Taiwanese culture and bring to life Wu Ming-yi’s characters in a cinematic universe.

Director's Profile

Producer's Profile