While we often have plans for our lives regarding when we want to buy a house, to have a career and start a family, more than once these schemes are thwarted. It is in these times we can prove ourselves in the eyes of the people we care about and also to us as well, whether we are ready to take over certain responsibilities and have matured. In his first feature “My Sister”, Taiwanese filmmaker Pan Ke-yin already focused on such moments, when the plans for people's lives clash with something unforeseen. “Daddy-To-Be”, as the title somewhat suggests, follows the same thematic path while also building on the same qualities, humor, warmth and humanity.
Daddy-To-Be is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Through most of his teenage years, Jun (Zheng Hao-ze) has been living a very relaxed life, making some pocket money thanks to his job working with his mother (Yen Yi-wen) at her clothing stall. However, his life becomes complicated when he is drafted for the military and his girlfriend Ann (Yu Chia-hsuan) suspects she is pregnant. Attempting not to upset his mother, who does not want to become a grandmother just yet, Jun tries to make certain Ann's suspicions are true, while also preparing himself for the next steps, marriage and making sure she is taken care of when he is training to be a soldier.
As mentioned before, “Daddy-To-Be” is a blend of humour and drama which works mostly thanks to its cast and their performance. Zheng Hao-ze, Yen Yi-wen and Yu Chia-hsuan all have great chemistry together, steering through the comedic undertones and situations with some very funny moments, for example, involving the attempt to buy a pregnancy test and not give any grounds for gossip in the tightly-knit neighborhood. At the same time, we feel with the characters, the growing realization of the changes they will have to face and the challenges they will have to master.
At the same time, Pan ke-yin's subtle direction elegantly connects the tones and themes of the short feature. While its symbolism is perhaps somewhat clumsy, the introduction of issues such as maturing and taking over responsibility is handled quite well. Thankfully, the script does not walk into the trap of over-explaining and being too talkative, and rather relies on silence and images to highlight the progression of the characters and their emotions.
In conclusion, “Daddy-To-Be” is a short feature about growth, family and taking over responsibility. Pan Ke-yin's blend of humour and drama works quite well, thanks mostly to its cast, its script and its direction, which, while not without minor flaws, understands when something does not need more details or further explanations.
