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Dear Ex

Country: Taiwan, Language: Mandarin, 100 mins

  • Director: Chih-Yen Hsu; Mag Hsu
  • Writer: Mag Hsu; Shih-yuan Lu
  • Producer: Shih-yuan Lu; Maggie Pan

CGiii Comment

Gimmicks and hysteria are just a couple of problems...

Daft, little animations litter this film...for no apparent reason other than to declare it a quirky little indie! Unnecessary!

The mother...wow, is this woman high-octane, she screams and yells and then some... It is a performance totally out-of-control...it's a big ask...but, be patient, with time, she settles and the daft animations become less frequent and annoying.

All the bluster of the first act segues into a rather heartfelt, totally immersive story of the trials and tribulations of love and loyalty...and, the fallout when the decision is taken...to stay [and live] true to yourself. This is selflessness and selfishness all rolled into one!

Despite the excellent cinematography and production values...alas, with two directors, it's not too difficult to spot who directed what...it really is a case of two being one too many...which is a shame...because, apart from the serious over-acting...this is a lovely little film with a rather remarkable and touching relationship at its core...between a boy and a young man who have lost the same man...distant father and dead lover.

Definitely erratic...but, by the end, its charm really does win you over.


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

When Sanlian's ex-husband passes away, she discovers he has altered his insurance policy, cutting out their son in favor of a stranger named Jay. Outraged, Sanlian decides that she and her son will confront Jay, but Jay proves equal to her scheme. However, when her son unexpectedly moves in with Jay, she is forced to reassess her relationship with them both.

Cast & Characters

Roy Chiu as Jay
Ying-Xuan Hsieh as Liu Sanlian
Joseph Huang as Song Chengxi
Spark Chen as Song Zhengyuan
Min-Fu Chou
Ai-Lun Kao as Jay's Mother
Fang Wan