The Falls

7/10.

This film explored themes of mental health amidst the coronavirus pandemic, between a mother and her daughter. Personally, this film really moved me, people that have experienced family with declining mental health will understand, as it was portrayed very well.

The film is 2 hours long, I thought it was a good length, people have complained about it being too long, but I disagree, the film took its time in showcasing all sorts of scenarios, following both the mother and daughter throughout its course. Sometimes together, and other times apart.

I enjoyed it thoroughly, the acting was fantastic and the ambience of the movie was great, too. It is a slowly progressing film, but I do think that was intentional, as to reflect on the situation the main characters were in.

Loved how this slow-burn family drama quickly escalated in intensity after Covid pandemic. Chung Mong-hong tried to destigmatize mental illness into daily situations. Alyssa & Gingle framed every feeling superbly over strained relationship and life adversities.

Psychosis is the theme of this story. I didn't recall any Taiwan product on this topic before, this is probably the first one. Demonstrating this sickness via the drama and help people understanding more on psychosis but in a very nature and moving way. Chia performance no doubt the top notch but I would say this movie give her a limit on her power of acting. I think if the ending is another way, it will make me rate down a lot. Glad it didn't end badly.

"That said, THE FALLS is no slacker in drumming up its emotional proportions, after the tumultuous first-half, Pin-wen and Jing's stricken existence literally changes for a rosier prospect after the tarp draping outside their apartment is dismantled, its blueish constraint gives way to an open view of a new lease on life. Jing learns to cope with Pin-wen's condition in the latter's shoes, and such empathetic approach is vindicated gratifyingly and surprisingly in the snake-in-the-room accident. As for Pin-wen, she needs to disabuse the illusion that her ex-husband (Lee) will return, reconciles herself to"the falls" in her head and comes clean to people who genuinely care for her, like the supermarket manager Mr. Chen (Chen). Aptly orchestrating the life-affirming progress that stops short of veering into the lane of mawkishness, Chung puts great trust in Chia's performance. Feelingly transforming from a capable single mother to a logy head case, Chia dives plumb into Pin-wen's deterioration without pretense, and felicitously calibrates the dissonant co-existence of emotional sincerity and cognitive distance. The close-ups of her face gradually swelling with belated emotive register are evidence of Chia's meritorious chops. Somehow it feels remiss that Chung doesn't tap into the sonic impact of "the falls" to grace the film with some more pertinent references of psychosis, although Lu Lü-Ming's stirring score is beyond reproach."

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Pin-wen (Alyssa Chia) got mental health problems during the COVID pandemic. Her daughter Jing (Gingle Wang), who used to have a strained relationship with her, reconciled with her through various events.

The musical score is truly brilliant, particularly towards the end. Some scenes are pretty funny, e.g. The snake scene (including Liu Kuan-ting's special appearance) and the mental hospital scene. Alyssa Chia's performance simple blows everyone's mind. The result is a moving and heartwarming mother/daughter drama and also a dedication to people with mental health problems.