THE BEST OF TIMES

Taiwan, 2002, 109 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Chang Tso-Chi?.

The Best of Times is a film from Taiwan, reinforcing the perceptions of some fans of the film industry of that country that most people seem somehow or other to be connected with the world of gangsters.

The film is strong in its portrait of local families in the city of Taipei, their personalities, their struggles, friendships. However, the presence of gangsters and the young men becoming involved as hitmen for them, brings the film into the world of violence in that city. The film is strong on the friendship between two young men who depend on each other. As they become more deeply involved in the violent world, their ambitions are frustrated, they make mistakes, gangster hitmen pursue them. The film moves into elements of fantasy and dream as it tries to interpret what is the meaning of life for these young men - and what is their short-lived destiny.

1. A portrait of life in Taipei? In Taiwan and the countryside?

2. The title, for the two young men, the irony, deaths and the worst of times?

3. The authentic atmosphere, the homes in the city, the streets, the bridges, the viaducts? The clubs? The contrast with the countryside, the sea and the beach, the musical score?

4. The voice-over and Ahwei and his explanation of himself, his cousin, his conjuring? Their friendship? His place in the family, his twin sister? The them of family relationships and loyalties?

5. The opening, the focus on the minute detail of lives in the two houses? Introducing the characters, their attitudes, love, bickering? The detail of everyday life in Taipei, poor families?

6. The two young men and their work, bouncers in the club, the boss and his support? Ahjie and his music? The promotion, collecting the debs, being given the gift of the gun with one bullet? Their playing with the gun, Ahwei being cautious, Ahjie not being cautious? Their going on the debt collection, the pulling of the gun, the dare to fire, the death?

7. Their escape, ringing Ahwei's sister's boyfriend, his taking them in, support, on the beach? The news of the sister's death? The taxi back to Taipei?

8. The pursuit by the gang, the vengeance, taking different roads? The parallel to their being chased before? Ahjie being shot? The final pursuit, the two men cornered? Their decision to leap into the water?

9. The background characters, the parents and grandparents? Their social status, ordinary life, meals? The concern about the sister? The maid? The old veteran and his complaints about the Taiwanese government? The bickering grandfather and his gambling and the family attacking him? A setting for the portrait of the two young men?

10. The young men, their prospects, the world of clubs, gangsters? Chinese gambling, clubs and violence?

11. The finale with their diving in the water, their being able to breathe underwater, some kind of life after death?