By Lotus Chen
On Happiness Road is a ‘playful yet profound coming-of-age’ animated film about a woman, Lin Shu-Chi who after years of being abroad, returns to her family home in Taiwan. After reconnecting with old friends and family, Chi reflects on her past hopes and experiences which weave in and out of her present day-reality. Flashbacks to her Taiwanese childhood set between the 1980s-1990s, ‘during Taiwan’s period of instability under martial law to present-day political realities,’ ‘the film is bookmarked by the death of Chiang-Kai-Shek and the outbreak of Sunflower movement.’
Released in 2018, On Happiness Road won the 2018 Golden Horse Best Animated feature, 2018 Tokyo Anime Film Award Festival as well as the Grand Prize, Best Animation and Audience Choice Award for the 2018 Taipei Film Festival.
Released in 2018, On Happiness Road won the 2018 Golden Horse Best Animated feature, 2018 Tokyo Anime Film Award Festival as well as the Grand Prize, Best Animation and Audience Choice Award for the 2018 Taipei Film Festival.
After seeing the film at MIIS Irvine Auditorium,I reflected on these three questions:
Is this film an example of culture diplomacy---Using films as a tool to highlight the identity and value of family?
How does the film on the happiness road depict American image?
Is it smart to underline universal value such as family?
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