ETERNAL SUMMER

Taiwan, 2006, 93 minutes, Colour.

Hsiao-chuan Chang, Ray Chang, Kate Yeung.

Directed by Leste Chen.

This is a story of two young boys, young, growing into adolescence, at age 18 and the transition from school to college and adult life. One is Jonathan, a conscientious little boy at school, the other Shane, attention deficit, always in mischief, playing up. Teachers asked Jonathan to be with Shane and be a good example and influence on him – which happens.

In the final year at school, Jonathan works on the paper with a fellow-student, Katie. She is attracted, suggests they skip school and visit Taipei, going to a hotel at night, sexual advance, Jonathan stopping, the beginnings of realisation of his sexual orientation. In the meantime, Shane doesn’t study but excels at sport. Jonathan is wary with Katie. Shane is attracted, follows her, she comes to watch him play sport, they become friends.

Jonathan becomes more remote, upset with Shane, studying for exams. There is a surprising sequence, presented too briefly for explanation, where Jonathan is picked up by an older man and they have a sexual encounter.

Tensions between the three. Then another surprise sequence, this time where Shane goes home with Jonathan and they have a sexual encounter – Shane desperately needing Jonathan and his friendship and so deciding to supply Jonathan’s sexual needs in order to retain his friendship.

In the final sequence, with the three, their recriminations, a fight, some kind of reconciliation and peace and a final glimpse of the three sitting together. Their future?

1. The title? Yet the time span of months? An image of not growing older?
2. Taiwan cinema, sexuality and orientation themes, 2006?
3. The country town, homes, school, sport, studies? The beach? Knowledge? The visit to Taipei, the train rides? The context for the three young central characters?
4. The effect of the screenplay, audience difficulties in appreciating what time has passed, long or short? Sequences cut short and not expanded, not explained, for instance the older man picking up Jonathan? The development of the relationship between Katie and Shane?
5. The opening, the three, Katie with the injury to her head? The two young men? The transition to childhood, the little boys, playing together? At school, Jonathan and his good behaviour, conscientious? Shane, attention deficit, playing up, cutting the little girl’s hair, sitting out in the field at his desk, punishment? The teacher with the children singing, forbidden to look out the window at Shane?
6. Shane’s mother, her concern about his development, the discussion with the teacher, the choice of Jonathan to be his companion, to look after him, to help Shane be his better self? Jonathan and his reaching out to Shane, situations, with the other children, Shane and sport?
7. The irony when Jonathan finally tells Shane that he was ordered to look after him and regretted it? And the further irony with Shane telling Jonathan that he knew that had been ordered to look after him?
8. Final year at school, Jonathan and his work on the paper with Katie, her suggesting they go to Taipei, in the city, the hotel, the sexual advance, Jonathan and his reluctance? The return home?
9. Jonathan, final realisation of his sexual attraction? Secrecy, cutting himself off? The encounters with Katie? With Shane, Shane and his best friend, ambiguity in the relationship? His studies, not doing well in have to do more exams? Shane and his excelling at sport? Enjoying Jonathan’s company? Teasing him, preventing him studying? Jonathan and his hostile reactions?
10. Shane, the encounter with Katie, initial hostility, mellowing, her demanding that he pass exams to go to university, Shane following her, her going to see him play, the buildup of the friendship, not telling Jonathan?
11. Time passing, Jonathan and his being by himself, sitting on the bench, the older man and the pickup, the sexual encounter, in the bath, the aftermath?
12. The ball, Jonathan reluctant to go, Shane insisting, Katie’s presence, the dancing, the revelation of the relationship?
13. The aftermath, at home, Shane and the sexual approach, the effect on Jonathan? Interpreting Shane’s behaviour as wanting to continue friendship with Jonathan and his being willing to give Jonathan what he needed, sexually?
14. At the beach, the fight, truth telling, Katie present? Her being knocked over?
15. In the final scene again of the three together? The audience sharing their experiences, the past, changes, and possibilities for the future?