Feature debut of Arvin Chen, “Au Revoir Taipei” may have very little to do with anything France, but still won the NETPAC Award at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival, among a number of other awards around the world, while also being a commercial success in Taiwan.
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Kai's girlfriend has just left for Paris, supposedly to wait for him there, while he spends his days working in his parent's tavern during the days and in a bookstore learning French during the night. While there, Susie, a feisty girl who works in the shop, takes an interest in him, although he doesn't seem to have the slightest clue. When his girlfriend ditches him on the phone though, Kai decides to travel to France, and to do so, asks for money from a local loan shark who frequents his parent's restaurant, Brother Bao. He gives him the money with ease, but also asks him to take a package with him in France, which he is to receive from someone the night before leaving. In the meantime, Bao's underlings, helmed by Hong, have decided to rob their employer and start following Kai to do so, who has taken the package before going out to eat with his friend, Gao. While out, they stumble upon Susie, and the three youths proceed to dinner. Before that happens though, Hong and the rest interfere, while Raymond, a policeman with relationship issues, is also on their heels.
Evidently, and considering that the movie lasts for 85 minutes, there are too many characters, episodes and arcs present here, and some, inevitably, stay rather undeveloped, with the policeman and his girlfriend arc being the most evident sample. One could also say that the whole French element is there to attract some European audience (or appeal to a will to go to Europe among the Taiwanese probably?) but mostly functions as an excuse for the two protagonists to meet. Furthermore, Gao is also underdeveloped while the reasoning behind Hong and his “colleagues” endeavors does not make much sense, as much as Bao's behavior.
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The movie however, still manages to be funny and entertaining, for a number of reasons. For starters, the presence of Amber Kuo as Susie in her debut as an actress definitely gives a breath of fresh, with her charisma being evident every time she appears in it. Particularly the way she wants Kai to notice her and her reaction to him ignoring her is excellent, while the dancing scene will definitely stay in the mind of every viewer. Her chemistry with Yao Chun-yao's Kai is also great, with him being rather entertaining as both the ‘good guy' and the ‘lover in despair'.
The organized crime element, both gives the opportunity for some comedic elements, but also allows for the movie to unfold, in its larger part, during the night, with the presentation of Taipei at the specific hours being rather impressive. The night market in particular is quite appealing to watch, while the chasing and the ‘violent' scenes that eventually take place add even more to the entertainment the movie offers.
Michael Fimognari's cinematography captures the aforementioned in the best fashion, in an approach that is both realistic and entertaining, although the visuals of the movie definitely find their apogee in the orange costumes of the ‘gang', in a playful wink towards “Clockwork Orange”. Justin Guerrieri's editing results in a relatively fast pace that picks during the ‘action' scenes, fitting the narrative nicely. Wen Hsu's music on the other hand is too repetitive, is heard too much throughout the movie, and in general, is annoying after a point.
“Au Revoir Taipei” aims to entertain through romance, comedy and a slight crime element, and in that regard, succeeds fully, despite some faults here and there.
