Life is a movie yearning for freedom/人生，是一部嚮往自由的電影
- Dylan Tang
- Sep 19, 2020
- 4 min read
Is the epic movie in your mind like your first love? And is it always in your mind? For the Taiwanese, the time of martial law has entered history. But for those who never lived in those difficult years, what happened in the past cannot easily be forgotten.
What about you? Do you have that epic movie in your mind? Is there a name that will always accompany you into the future?
The movie "Your Name Engraved Herein" is a story about two different souls and perhaps this theme has been used many times. However, through the actor's clear eyes and heartfelt smile, this movie can become a classic and will be able to tell another of life’s stories.
"If Birdy is like a cat, then Chang Jia-Han is like a dog."
When Edward Chen described the two characters in the movie, he said: "If Birdy is like a cat, then Chang Jia-Han is like a dog. Because Chang Jia-Han is always chasing the cat like a dog." After he said this, I couldn't help but think of Tseng Jing-Hua’s words: “One is desperate and the other one quietly accompanies.” Edward Chen played Chang Jia-Han and Tseng Jing-Hua played Birdy in the movie. These two character’s yearning for freedom is like modern people’s desires. But once we expect it we are more afraid of being hurt by it.
"True freedom is to do what you want to do"
The characters in the film have travelled all the way through 30 years, from pagers to the era of using apps for communication. Whether it is economic or spiritual freedom, it is not difficult to see this in the movie. But what about these two actors? They are just in their twenties.
Freedom seems to be an understatement, but what does the heavy textual meaning behind it represent? "For me, freedom has always existed in my mind. Real freedom is to do what I want to do, and to respect others." Jing-Hua said directly. "Freedom is happiness for me because you have to be yourself and live happily in order to enjoy freedom. Besides, eating well and sleeping well, as long as you can do these two things, then you will be happy, and feel free.” This is Edward’s definition of freedom. Such a surprising answer, because from his words, freedom can be so simple and pure.
"My future is a bit like an anime story because I want to change the world!"
Although 2020 is a turbulent year, everyone has their blueprint for their immediate future. Edward's expectation of his own future is just as simple and moving as it was when he played Chang Jia-Han. "Actually, I think my future is a bit like an anime because I want to change the world. My blueprint for the future is to be a person who changes the world. But I don’t know how I will change the world. I think it’s only through my music and my acting, then in the future, I should be able to become a person who changes the world.” When Edward said this so heartily, I seemed to be talking to his character in the movie. He seemed to be wearing the drama’s clothes as he was standing in front of me.
"Thanks for everything this role has brought me. I hope I can experience more life in different roles again." Tseng Jing-Hua didn't say much, but he straightforwardly interpreted his yearning for the future in one sentence. Perhaps just like the characters in the film, Birdy doesn't seem to say much, but he is always contemplating.
"...I'm a more nostalgic person like I like Koji Tamaki's music..."
The story of "Your Name Engraved Herein" kicked off before many of generation Z were even born and the ending of the plot penetrates the role of grown-ups with flashbacks to scenes of youth. Will you say this story is romantic? I think this is a splendid spark of freedom and nostalgia. And "time" happens to be an important element in this story that binds the two together. Regarding time, Edward said: "Time is very important to me. Maybe I am a more nostalgic person. Such as I like Koji Tamaki’s music so time is very important to me. I’m twenty-four years old now, but I like some things in the past because what happened in the past can make me better in the future.” I accidentally heard the name of a Japanese singer that I haven’t heard for a long time, and it seems young Edward, like a new bottle of old wine, is full of surprises. When it comes to music, he also mentioned the legendary singer Anita Mui. Perhaps for him, the flow of time did not make him miss anything from history.
Although he did not experience it personally, Edward Chen is bound to become like the older Chang Jia-Han in the film, calm and changing the world. For Tseng Jing-Hua, perhaps he will become like Birdy, as he said, "looking at the past and cherishing the present."
TEXT Dylan TANG
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