"Keeping Watch" is directed and written by Fenfen Cheng(郑芬芬). It stars Chang Hsiao-Chuan and Haden Kuo Chuna Wong. The plot revolves around a girl named Ching who works at her family's clock shop. Everyday at a certain time a man name Han comes by the shop to get his watched fixed. Ching soon finds that Han was her high school classmate and that everyday at three o'clock, Han becomes another personality and comes to see her.
This movie is very indie and the way it was shot shows any signs of being so. The thing i love about movies shot in Taiwan is that there is no filter on scenes. I believe i mentioned this fact before but the town that "Keeping Watch" was filmed in was very run down and poor looking. Train tracks run by houses and trees grow around and inside buildings. The place shouts country side bumpkin town to me but it also helps set the pace for the film. Most people who live in small towns want to leave at some point in their lives. Most of the time there are things that hold that person back like family, regrets, or fear of the unknown. Run down buildings and homes that are in need of a fix indicate that most of the people who live that are in a stand still. This fact also transitions to the characters.
Ching is a character that you can look at and tell she has some sort of emotional baggage. she does the same thing over and over again everyday and she seems to need something to set her free. Haden does a great job playing a girl who's light has almost gone out only to find hope to living freely when meeting Han. There are scenes of monetary shift in her personality when she becomes, witty and flirtatious. All of which are believable and charming as Han seemed to like it too. Joseph Chang( Chang Hsiao Chuan's english name.) Stole the show on many accords in this movie. Her was the main reason i decided to buy this movie. Since falling in love with his him in Eternal Summer(盛夏光年), I wanted to see the movie he did a year afterward. Han's appearance shook the foundation of not only the plot but Ching's life as she knew it. The topic of mental health act be hard to act out and if you don't do your research, Your performance comes off as cheese but Joseph did an amazing job portraying someone who experienced great loss to the point that his mind began to have issues. Facial expressions and actions gave Han's character a mysterious feel while also helping the viewer spot the mental change in his behavior. I was curious if her could pull off a role like this because this role and the role he came from as so different that if he didn't bring his best, The whole movie would have been thrown off balance.
The plot line narrates like a novel divided into chapters and I mean that literally. Text shows up on the screen at certain intervals in the film making you feel like you stole some girl's diary and peeked inside. At first I didn't like it but as the film press's on, you start to appreciate the narration. I'm not sure if this is suppose to be an older version go Ching but it seems that way. The narration screen is also accompanied by a water pastel full of colors in motion. This reminds me of the old shows I use to watch back in the day. The story keeps you engaged until the end changed my whole perception of the film.
If your interested in a movie that is more on the indie side then give this movie a try. I don't think it will be for everyone but if your an east asian cinema lover like me, then its a movie to add to your watch list.
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