Forêt Debussy (德布西森林)
Country Taiwan
Year 2016
Genre Drama
Format Color / Flat / DCP
Runtime 94 min
Status Completed
Release Date Oct. 28, 2016 (Taiwan)
Director KUO Cheng-Chui
Cast GWEI Lun-Mei (Black Coal, Thin Ice, GF*BF), LU Yi-Ching (Stray Dogs, The Wayward Cloud)
Festival & Awards
7th Beijing International Film Festival – Official Selection
53rd Golden Horse Awards –Best Supporting Actress Nomination
1st International Film Festival & Awards Macao – Official Selection
36th Hawaii International Film Festival Halekulani Golden Orchid Award – Best Narrative Feature Nomination
2016 Kaohsiung Film Festival – Opening Film
Trailer
Synopsis
Deep in the barren mountains, a mother and a daughter live an isolated quiet life.
The Daughter looks lean and fragile. She seems unreactive toward her surroundings, confining herself in her own wretched world. The Mother is like a guardian angel who always protects her and takes care of everything. Before living in seclusion, The Daughter was a pianist who lost her husband and son. The Mother decided to take her away and hid her in the mountains where no one could ever find them, believing it is the only possible way for her daughter to survive, Nevertheless, they have to face nothing but themselves ever since, as well as to confront the endless forest…
Director’s Statement
I’ve been away from home for long, yet my concern for the social happenings in Taiwan grows day by day – Taiwanese people get unsure and fear about their future while the voice of the subaltern keeps being neglected. I can hardly overlook all these situations, hoping to speak for the island, but how shall I begin?
When I think of all these questions, the story of Forêt Debussy appears: if the land is no longer inhabitable one day, where can we go? If we run away from the familiar metropolitan life and return to the nature, will the abandoned civilization once again restart and thus be redeemed?
Crew
Director & Writer / KUO Cheng-Chui
Cheng-Chui KUO studied cinema in Provence University in France. His short film, Family Viewing won The Best Fiction, Best Script, Best Actress in the Golden Harvest Awards of Taiwan, Audience’s Choice in Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival and nominated as Best Short Film in Cesar Awards in France. Forêt Debussy is his first feature film.
Filmography
2016 Forêt Debussy
2012 Expiration (35 mm short film)
2008 Family Viewing (35 mm short film)
Producer / Aileen LI
Aileen LI made her debut as a producer in 2004’s film Formula 17, which was that year’s box office champion. She continued producing movies of various genres –The Heirloom, Shoe Fairy, and Catch, for example. In 2008, she started working for transnational movie production projects: Ghosted (Germany), The Last Days of The World (France), and Prince of Tears (Hong Kong). The most recent films are Juliet, May Day 3D Concert Film 3DNA, Black and White: The Dawn of Assault, Young Dudes, and When A Wolf Falls in Love with A Sheep. LI was also the line producer to coordinate the shooting in Taipei of Lucy directed by Luc Besson and Hong Kong director John Woo’s The Crossing.
Producer / Steven TU
Steven TU has a master’s degree in communication from Tamkang University in Taiwan, and his research was about martial arts films. He was the Programmer for the Taipei Film Festival from 2011 to 2013. He is now a columnist for the United Daily News, ELLE and Ming Weekly in Taiwan. He was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 47th Golden Horse Awards for The Fourth Portrait.
Cast
GWEI Lun-Mei as The Daughter
GWEI Lun-Mei is a Taiwanese actress. She started her acting career in the movie Blue Gate Crossing, and went on to gain more recognition in the movie Secret directed by Jay Chou. GWEI’s other notable films include Parking, Taipei Exchanges, Starry Starry Night, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, GF*BF, and Berlin Film festival Golden Bear Award winner Black Coal, Thin Ice. Her performance in GF*BF received critical acclaim and earned her Golden Horse Awards and Asia Pacific Film Festival for Best Actress in 2012.
Filmography
2014 Black Coal, Thin Ice
2012 GF*BF
2007 Secret
2002 Blue Gate Crossing
LU Yi-Ching as The Mother
LU Yi-Ching is a Taiwanese actress. She has appeared in more than 25 feature films, receiving numerous international accolades. She started her acting career in TSAI Ming-liang’s TV movie and continued to act in other TSAI Ming-liang’s films include The River, What Time Is It There?, The Wayward Cloud, Face ,Stray Dogs. LU also worked with other directors like Cheng Wen-Tang (Blue Cha Cha) and Doze, Niu Chen-Zer (Monga). She was the two time Best Supporting Actress winner of Asia Pacific Film Festival.
Filmography
2013 Stray Dogs
2010 Monga
2009 Face
2004 The Wayward Cloud
ABLAZE IMAGE / 光在影像 