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VIFF 2009 | Yang Yang
By VIFF Correspondent Jordana MahYang Yang
Taiwan, 2009, 112min
DIR: Cheng Yu-chieh
Teenage years are difficult for everyone, but for young Yang Yang, life seems even more treacherous. The film opens with the joyous wedding of Yang Yang`s mother to best friend Xiao-Ru's father. Unfortunately, the familial bliss and simplicity of childhood soon falls aside. Young Yang Yang`s life becomes extremely complicated when Xiao-Ru`s boyfriend Shawn begins to fall for Yang Yang.
Friendships are torn apart and everything that Yang Yang knew to be true is torn apart by betrayal. She bounces back when she befriends Ming-Ren, a local talent scout, and uses her unique half-Taiwanese, half-French heritage to propel herself into a career in modeling and acting. As she becomes more successful in this new career, Yang Yang is forced to confront her unknown past and begin her journey towards self-acceptance.
Director Cheng Yu-chieh fills this excellent film with intensity in every shot - the chemistry between the young teens caught in a triangle of lust and competition is fraught with tension, both sexual and fierce in nature. Sandrine Pinna (Yang Yang) and He Si-Hui (Xiao-Ru) deliver solid performances as best friends who become enemies. In this film, war is executed with stealth and side-long glances, with the hapless Shawn (Bryant Chang) as their pawn and prize. Although most of the attention on the film focuses on the mixed heritage of its main character and star, Yang Yang is actually about the complications of friendship, first loves, and emotions that are only revealed behind closed doors. It is telling, accurate, and subtle in its teaching.
Schema Magazine's coverage of VIFF 2009 is sponsored by the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
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October 15, 2009 at 11:14 PM
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