YOUR NAME ENGRAVED HEREIN

Taiwan, 2020, 118 minutes, Colour.
Edward Chen.
Directed by Patrick Liu.

This film comes from Taiwan. It broke box office records there and has received favourable reviews from other countries. It also screened on Netflix.

It has been noted that Taiwan has legislated in favour of same-sex marriage, giving a context for this film. There have also been comparisons with Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by Your Name (even a comparison in tone with the two titles).

However, most of the action of the film takes place in 1987, with the repeal of martial law and of steady democracy. The action takes place in the school, a Catholic school, in fact, with a chaplain who is available to the students but who also coaches sport and in music (he originally comes from Montréal). The focus is on a student in the liberal arts, Jia- Han (Edward Chen) quiet, popular with other students. But, these students pick on a rather precocious fellow-student, nicknamed Birdy, labelling him as homosexual and exhibiting quite some homophobia in teasing and bullying. Jia- Han is attracted to Birdy.

This is Jia- Han’s story, his concealing his orientation, yet supporting Birdy, seen at home with his parents, a stern father, a loving mother who hopes her son will find a girlfriend. At the same time, the school is introducing female students – though with some rigorous disciplinary guidelines.

The framework of this earlier part of the film is Jia- Han, with some injuries to his face, going to see Fr. Oliver to talk about his situation, to seek advice. The priest presumes that the trouble concerns relationship with girls and only gradually is Jia- Han able to reveal something of his own emotions. The priest offers traditional guidance. There is some discussion about gospel texts, especially the significance of love overcoming all else. The continued discussion recurs throughout the film.

Jar- Han and Birdy visit the capital, enjoy the train ride together, with touches of intimacy. However, this is all a challenge to Birdy who goes out with some of the girls, suggests that Jia-Han? get a girlfriend, leading to clash when Birdy crashes Jia- Han’s motor scooter, when Jia- Han assists Birdy in a long and intimate shower sequence. But, it leads to clashes and fights.

The last 15 minutes or so of the film are a kind of epilogue, taking place in the present, the older Jia- Han visiting Canada (with a long interlude at Niagara Falls which also appears during the final credits), going to the cemetery to Fr. Oliver’s grave, finding out what happened to him after he left Taiwan. And, he also encounters Birdy, as well as talking with Birdy’s ex-wife. There is tender reminiscence about the past, the two walking together – and the audience speculating what will happen to these two 50 year old men given the pain and anguish as well as love of the past.

The film offers a sympathetic portrait of Jia- Han, his struggles in the 1980s with himself, his sexual orientation, what it leads to in pain and disappointment – but, the film also shows that he survives. And survives into a much more tolerant world.

1. The impact of the film? Taiwan? Worldwide?

2. The key theme? Within the context of Taiwanese culture, legislation? Changes from the 1980s into the 21st-century?

3. The locations, the school, classes, dormitory, dining? Homes? The city, demonstrations? Train trips? The boat, the island, the beach and the sea? The musical score? The final song and its themes? The use of Western themes, for example Danny Boy, Amazing Grace?

4. The political background, 1987, the end of martial law? The response of the people? The death of the president, mourning? And the glimpse of the gay protester with the condom costume? Indication of homophobia, the public, the police? The boys at the college and their bullying behaviour? Gays and their reticence, not coming out?

5. The character of Jia- Han, his age, home background, stern father, loving mother? Squabbles at home, money, his father’s reputation? At school, studying liberal arts? In the band? His skill with music? His encounter with Birdy, eyes, talking? The disciplinarian in the dormitory, the punishments and supervision, beating Birdy? The bullies, the episode in the bathroom?

6. His friends not knowing what to make of Jia- Han? The criticisms of Birdy, gay implications?

7. The framework of Jia- Han talking with Fr. Oliver? Fr. Oliver, the Canadian priest, his Catholicism, talking about Montréal and the 60s and the break with traditional Catholicism? His own schooling, beatings from the priests, infatuations? His leaving? His vocation, working in the school, sports coaching, the music? Sympathetic to Jia- Han, taking a strict line, presumption about heterosexuality? The recurring conversations throughout the film, Jia- Han and his bleeding, Fr. Oliver trying to tend? The visit to the chapel? Prayer?

8. Catholic teaching, homosexuality, the stances are Fr. Oliver, the presumptions of Jia- Han’s parents? The Scripture texts, from the Song of Songs, from the Gospels? Interpretation of the command of love? The range of discussions about love?

9. The girls coming to the school, discipline, separations, flirtations? The girls watching the sport? The musical events?

10. Birdy, ambiguous behaviour, touches of intimacy, touches of firtation, the train ride and the demonstration in the city? Lying together? Jia- han and wanting to kiss? Birdy becoming more ambiguous, wanting to set up Jia- Han with the girl? His own relationship with Banban?

11. Jia- Han and the clashes with Birdy, the fights? Birdy and his wanting to go with the girls? Jia- han and his torment?

12. Birdy, the motor scooter, his accident, disability, the long shower sequence, the behaviour of each young man, the intimacy, the kiss, the consequences?

13. The buildup to the main fight, Birdy and his father attacking him in the classroom, Birdy disappearing?

14. Jia- Han and, his desperation, Birdy following him, the train ride, the boat, going to the island, one following the other, Jia- Han and his screaming? Going into the water, the play, sitting on the rocks?

15. The move to 30 years later? The visit to Canada? The older Jia- Han? The interlude at Niagara Falls (and the Falls during the final credits)?

16. The visit to the cemetery, Fr. Oliver’s grave, the discussion with the friend, Fr. Oliver leaving the priesthood, motivations, the relationship?

17. The bar, seeing Birdy, encountering him in Québec? The discussions, and the flashbacks about the song in this competition composition? The reminiscing about the past, the changes? Birdy and the marriage with Banban, Jia- Han going to discuss with Banban, the divorce, the child? The ruling for her life?

18. The discussions with Birdy, going to the room, returning, their walking together? The reminiscences? A future?

19. The final credits, the collage of images of the past? A review of life, struggles, love, disappointments?

20. The role of the film in contributing to social consciousness, sexual orientation, same-sex relationships?