Renowned Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong's (鍾孟宏) feature film "The Falls (瀑布)" has been nominated by the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development of Ministry of Culture to compete in the 94th edition of the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
MOC said "The Falls" stood out from the 11 participating national films this year as the selection committee regards it as a film that captured the reality precisely and profoundly. "Whether it is a visual metaphor or a relationship between characters, both are depicted clearly and professionally," the Ministry added.
It is Chung's first work to observe the society from the perspective of a female protagonist. It follows the relationship between a mother and a daughter, which takes an unexpected turn while the pair are quarantining. This is Chung's third film to be chosen to represent Taiwan, his film "A Sun (陽光普照)" was chosen last year as Taiwan’s entry at the Oscars.
Chung once shared that the construction canvas covering the house is like a big face mask in the film. Additionally, the relationship between people should have been closer, but the reality shows the opposite in the midst of the pandemic. However, the film aims at urging audiences to build connections with others and care for each other, he added.
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will take place on March 27, 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film is defined as a feature-length motion picture produced outside the US with a predominantly non-English dialogue track.