Dear Ex

I wonder why there is a "Dear" in the film's English title. A confession to the protagonists' past relationships, or a revenge? Or, maybe both.

Hovering in my head for hours and hours after the emotionally powerful film-viewing experience is the main theme named Bali Song, unpretentious background music for a stage drama considered to be the Ex's brainchild in the film. The song is a ballad mixed with a bit folk and some dreamy, laidback and even sexy retro pop, with its arousing opening whistle notes sentimentally visualizing a pleasant and romantic vacation, an ideal escape and an Utopia...for anyone longing for true freedom in his/her same-sex romantic relationships against the so-called social convention. The use of music here is such a gentle and subtle move within the film's melodramatic context and a breath of fresh air out of the "traditional" conventions in the still relatively conservative Chinese culture, or even in most Asian cultures. To my surprise, though, the music and lyrics of Bali Song also work as a nice replacement (instead of a compliment) to the mediocre stage drama that it's echoing in the film.

At times, this film quietly reminds me of works from Taiwan New Cinema spearhead Edward Yang, while its music, its character-driven plot, and somewhat overacting with surely a purpose breaks my illusions immediately. It is a sharp reflection as well as honest observation of life in Taipei, for the first decade of the 21st Century or so, not of life more than 25 years ago, when Ang Lee's Wedding Banquet came out.

The film is never comfortable to watch. Literally, it is a love confession (-starting with Dear) to whoever has once been either an annoying adolescent or adult ( a.k.a. the most stupid creature on earth ). So, get your tissues ready if you wouldn't mind taking a HOME-bound emotional roller-coaster with the family drama, and then...getting bombarded by that song!

The cinematography is so beautiful in this film and the journey of the main characters is a subtle learning experience so well crafted. But the most amazing part of this film is Roy Chiu who settles into every scene so perfectly. Truly a stellar performance.

This movies is seriously difficult to translate. After reading some of the reviews, I can see how the subtitles cannot hurdle past the culture gap. Yes, there're a lot of yelling. Yes, the screenplay seems messy. But the story is told through the eyes of a young teenager, coming to term with his father's death and is confused by the surrounding mess and emotions. You really have to read between the lines in order to understand how each of the characters is coping with the trauma. I really enjoyed the film despite the yelling. It's worth the watch.

This was my first Taiwanese movie which i watched on Netflix just now. I thought it would be a comedy ,however the first flashback in the movie made me cry and it felt like i was watching "P.S I love you" or "Brokeback mountain".. I had no expectations from it at the beginning,however was so impressed with the movie after i finished it.. Loved the Bali Whistle song as well :)

Dear Ex must be best film produced in 2018 in Taiwan. Both actor and actress showed incredible performance in the movie. Yhe plot really makes you think over and over again after coming out of the movie theater. it's one of those movies that will make you want to see at least 3 more times and collect its DVD