The concept of one becoming a ghost and even watching their own funeral has been explored a number of times in cinema, particularly in Hollywood, with the truths raised about the deceased by the people who attend the ceremony lingering somewhere between the comedic and the dramatic. Li Nien-hsu presents a 35-minute film focusing on such a concept, based on her family and the real-life conversations they had after her father’s death.
“Can You Hear Me?” is screening at Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh
Jhong Er wakes up and realizes that he is dead, as he watches his already bedridden body lying in the room he spent the last years of his life, taken care of by his wife. Soon, his two daughters and his only son arrive, with sadness taking over them when they realize what has happened. Not before they point some fingers, though, with the son even mentioning that since his wife left his death bed while he was alive and returned to find him dead, she could be accused of manslaughter. As such, the appearance of a policeman asking about the cause of death a bit later takes a rather tragicomical shape, even more so since the young man seems to be able to see and hear the ghost of the deceased. Eventually, the name of Zhao, Jhong Er’s childhood friend, also comes to the fore.
Implementing a mostly comedic approach, Li Nien-hsu presents a film that shows how complicated family relations can be, particularly since, not even husbands and wives, parents and children can know everything about each other. The patriarchal tendencies, as exhibited in the fact that the life insurance the father had was to go fully to the son are also highlighted, while the questions of whether Jhong Er had an affair, and the nature of his relationship with Zhao, also torment the members of the family. Much of the humor here derives from such types of misunderstandings, with Li showcasing though, the gap of communication that frequently appears among family members.
As the story progresses, the movie becomes more dramatic, and even melodramatic at points, particularly in the way Li presents how much the children, but particularly the wife, will miss the deceased. The inclusion of Chinese opera, in the movie’s most impressive aspect visually, and the music of the last scene, conclude the rich narrative here, ending the movie in a rather optimistic tone.
Regarding the acting, Chin Shih Chieh as the father, and Gui Mei Yang as the mother steal the show with their “shenanigans”, in both the comedic and the dramatic moments.
“Can You Hear Me?” is a quite entertaining film that benefits the most by the subtle commentary, the humor, the acting and the overall quality of the production, which result in a short that is quite pleasant to watch on a number of levels.
