'Such a Life' is quite a sad film. It is set in the sixties, in a village on the west coast of Taiwan, where many are succumbing to 'black foot', a disease caused by drinking contaminated well water. The only 'cure' is to amputate the afflicted limb, and to avoid drinking the contaminated water. Many in the village were already sick, and few could afford to have tap-water installed. At the center of the story is Ah Chung, who lives with his grandfather, who has already lost one leg to 'black foot'. In the same village also live an opera family, who are finding things increasingly difficult there, an oyster farmer, who complains that his oysters are being poisoned by a nearby pharmaceutical plant, and an assortment of children who enjoy swimming in the sea, and who bully Ah Chung. A significant portion of the action also takes place in the village school, where Ah Chung is having trouble keeping up with the fees.
'Such a Life' shares much with some of the important Taiwanese New Wave films, in particular the poverty of many native Taiwanese, especially those living in rural areas. the story is a largely unsentimental depiction of grinding poverty alleviated by few joys. The language spoken, according the DVD I viewed, is Min Nan, which appears to be a Fujianese dialect, much like Taiwanese itself, and this adds to the authentic feel of the film. The acting is naturalistic and convincing, from both young and old, though the cast appears to consist largely of amateurs. Some of the photography is excellent, especially long shots of the surroundings, though the camera does not avoid the less palatable ugliness of destitution. There are, however, also some short sections of opera included which offer a colourful break from the drudgery of daily life.
Very much a New Wave film, 'Such a Life' is the opposite of escapist entertainment. Anyone interested in that movement, or who likes the early films of Hou Hsiao Hsien should find this film interesting. It is a serious work of art, and a memorable one at that.
