Director Lee Yun Chan marks her return to feature filmmaking after 20 years with 'To Be Ordinary,' the only Taiwanese film competing at the Busan International Film Festival.

Taiwanese director Lee Yun Chan has returned to feature filmmaking with "To Be Ordinary," the sole Taiwanese entry in competition at the Busan International Film Festival. The film, which follows the impact of a car accident on an ordinary family, marks Lee's first feature project in two decades. The production was shot over 42 days following a period of cast training.

Plot and Production

The film centers on Yu Jie, a college student and web designer who becomes disabled after a motorcycle accident. The driver responsible provides financial support, which leads to a complex shift in the family's dynamics as they struggle with financial and emotional strain. Lee grounded the story in the daily rhythms of Taipei, incorporating elements like the city's MRT commute and the music of garbage trucks. To prepare for their roles, the cast engaged in activities such as cooking and hiking together to build rapport. Actor Junior Hsieh, who plays the injured student, used a wheelchair in his daily life to understand the perspective of a person with a disability.

Cast Perspectives

Actor Weber Yang, who portrays the family's unemployed father, noted that he connected with the script during his own midlife crisis. Chang Shih Ying, playing the mother, described the role as an opportunity to explore the emotional complexities of marriage and family. Following its world premiere in Busan, the film is scheduled for screenings at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Golden Horse Film Festival.