Comparative Study Of《a City Of Sadness》and《cape No.7》

The time of film《A City of Sadness》 was in the end of second World War II and surrendered of Japan. It’s about a story of family Lin who live in mountain town Jiufen in Taiwan. The film begin with Lin family’s father talking his great achievement when he was young in high-spirited and vigorous. Till the end of film, father quietly eating and accompany by his third son but he was insane. We see a family changes from high to low.Lin family’s elder son, “LIN, WEN-XIONG”, inherits the family business and wealth. He is also responsible to support the whole family. He not only takes care the birth of his own son, care about youngest bother’s business and even the penalty due to smuggle of his second younger brother. He play the role of an elder brother well and meet the expiation about the elder brother in that time.The main female character, “WU, KUAN-MEI”, talk the whole story as commentator in the film. She express enormous concern and love about her family and herself. She is always behind but fully support his husband, the youngest son of Lin family. She is a typically traditional wife to husband in that time.The time of film,《Cape No. 7》is 60 years apart from the time of film,《A City of Sadness》. Character’s relationship with family and lover is quite different compared with characters in《A City of Sadness》. For instance, characters concerns self-feeling. Falling in love is quick and easy no matter what circumstance is in 《Cape No. 7》. Characters enjoy this fast-food type of love. For family, father choose talking to sons more like friend no matter how successful is in his career. In contrast, film,《A City of Sadness》present tradition. Father talk to son is top-down and maintain his authority.This is significant different treatment to family and love relation in two films. 《A City of Sadness》 present old Taiwan and 《Cape No. 7》is current Taiwan society. Our society experienced major progress in technology, economic and etc. Taiwan people is richer and more knowledgeable than our father’s generation. With the constant contact with people around the world, many new ideas or thought are brought to Taiwan. New thoughts and are interacted with traditional thoughts or value. The interface reshape people thinking then whole Taiwan society. People think different about relationship with family and lover compared to past.Father role is supporting whole family and have strong influence to family members in film,《A City of Sadness》. Father is the absolutely authority. Woman is fully devoted to family and person she cares about. This is traditional Chinese society. However, 《Cape No. 7》express a different point of view and represent as modern society. Father communicates to family members a lot. he is in equal status with rest family members. To love relationship, what I can have from our relationship is most important. People looks for self-satisfaction rather than devotes to.Taiwan is in the middle of East Asia arc. Due to political isolation, Taiwan people seek economies progress long time. There are many connections with so called “western world” which are more powerful in many aspects compared with Taiwan. Many different thoughts are bringing to Taiwan. Many students study abroad. Students not only gain latest knowledge but also bring different thought back. New concepts not only influence students who study aboard but also gradually change whole society. New concepts reshape Taiwan’s family and people. Fathers are opened for discussion and less holding the absolutely power. To women and wife, they are also changed and begin to love herself more.These changes are reflected to two films I stated. They are the mirror of Taiwan society but in different time. Comparison of two films is also looking 60 year changes in Taiwan and in people who live in.