Youth-oriented school dramas, crime stories, and teen romances have long been staples of Taiwanese cinema. Andy Tu attempts to combine all three in “Reborn,” a movie that channels the aesthetics of “You Are the Apple of My Eye,” though at times it feels forced. Let us take things from the beginning.
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The story is set in 2010 and follows a group of students at an elite high school. At the start, the “Three Musketeers” , Lo Tung-yu, Chang Chin-sheng, and Chen Ying-jui, suffer a basketball defeat at the hands of Lin Yao-chung, a wealthy student who also happens to be the school bully. As punishment, the trio is forced to strip in front of the entire school, and since Tung-yu isn’t wearing underwear, the boys decide to go all in, exposing themselves in the name of solidarity. Meanwhile, Lo Tung-yu is hopelessly in love with Zhen Zhen, a wealthy violin prodigy, despite his friends constantly reminding him of their class differences.
One night, Tung-yu and Zhen Zhen are trapped inside the school grounds. Her frustrated family and the irate Yao-chung decide to punish him, setting off a chain of events that leads the three friends to believe that the only way to change their circumstances is to become rich. Under Tung-yu’s lead, they accept an offer from local crime boss Kwan to run an illegal gambling operation at school.
Andy Tu structures the movie in two distinct halves, with the second one taking up the bulk of the runtime. It begins as a teen romance and buddy comedy, with the pursuit of Zhen Zhen and a series of light-hearted antics taking place both inside and outside of school. However, following the pivotal night, the tone shifts dramatically, and the story transforms into a crime drama that frequently veers into melodrama.
It is at this point that Tu seems to lose control of his narrative. His attempt to weave too many contextual threads into the plot results in most of them feeling underdeveloped. Tung-yu’s involvement with Kwan, the gambling operation’s expansion, the fate of one of the students, and a feud all have potential on their own, but together they lack cohesion. The conclusion makes little sense, and the repeated imagery of the group standing on the beach in white shirts, while visually pleasing, comes across as a tired cliché in Taiwanese cinema.
Despite its structural flaws, some of the film’s commentary manages to come through. The socioeconomic divide between rich and poor is highlighted throughout, along with the idea that crime may seem like the only escape for the underprivileged. The movie also underscores the absence of responsible adult figures, both from parents and school authorities, which leaves the youth vulnerable.
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The cast’s performances also help carry the movie. Harry Lu is convincing as Tung-yu, balancing the character’s emotional and action-driven scenes effectively. Leo Chiu portrays the arrogant villain Yao-chung with conviction, while Crystal Yen brings charm and sincerity to the role of Zhen Zhen.
The cinematography is a strong point, with bright visuals in the early part contrasted nicely by the darker tone of the second half. The editing, however, is inconsistent, with noticeable issues in pacing and story progression.
In the end, “Reborn” is not without merit, but it will likely appeal most to dedicated fans of teen-centered stories rather than a broader audience.
