Opinion

Say Goodbye to the Crowded Paradise

Your Name Engraved Herein ​is a 2020 Taiwanese romance movie globally released on Netflix in December. The story is based on director Patrick Kuang-Hui Liu’s romantic memories from his youth. The film is set in 1987 Taiwan, shortly after the end of nearly four decades of martial law. Two high school boys are experiencing a growing sense of intimacy along with a tremendous sense of camaraderie in their friendship. Kuang-Hui Liu reminisces: “I once thought I had forgotten him a long time ago, however the more I wrote the script, the more the memories became vivid.” Liu found the courage to write the script after being encouraged by his friend Arthur Chu, and then confessing to his mother about his sexuality. Therefore, this movie means a lot to him.
 
“Everyone’s first love is as great as an epic movie.” This signature line from the movie defines how people feel towards their first love. Perhaps some people’s first loves are just plain and ordinary stories in others’ eyes, but they are unforgettable for those inside the story.  After all, we all miss that youthful innocence and courage, which urged us to chase love and give our heart to the one unconditionally.
 
Both main characters, Han and Birdy, are young and green. Han was born in a traditional Christian family, and is bothered and perplexed about his homosexuality because of deep-rooted religious views. He even tries to hide his true sexuality by dating girls. Meanwhile, Birdy is a boy who longs for freedom, like a bird flying high in the sky without worries, which is the reason he gave himself his name. However, he must satisfy his family’s expectations of him as he is the only son. Faced with Han’s intense love, he chooses to deal with it vaguely by keeping his distance, staying behind and protecting Han silently.
 
​Han and Birdy encounter each other in swimming class and in band practice. One day, the school's priest and band leader, Father Oliver tells the story of how he met his first love, “I was looking at her, she was looking at me too” – Right at this moment, Han and Birdy coincidently glance into each other’s eyes, both of them responding with a shy and polite smile. Little do they know that the seed of serendipity has been planted for their upcoming relationship. 
 
After they become close, they always stick together and wander the streets, going to the cinema, malls, and MTV booths after school. A famous nostalgic song plays throughout these happy scenes – Bobby Chan’s The Crowded Paradise.
 
一輩子能夠遭遇多少個春天 
How many affairs do we encounter in one life?
多情的人他們怎會瞭解一生愛過就一回 
Those who are affectionate will not understand 
 loving only once in the lifetime
沸騰的都市盲目的愛情
Hustling and bustling city, blinding love
 
Say goodbye to the crowded paradise
 
Despite their feelings for each other, they are overwhelmed by the social stigma of being gay. Behind the crowded paradise, their powerful and secretive love has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. “Profiter du moment (Live in the moment)” Father Oliver’s words repeat throughout the movie, and finally they choose to admit their sexuality and accept the relationship in the end. They might not be able to choose which century to meet each other, but they choose to love fondly in the moment.
 
Love is like coal, once it burns deeply, it becomes unquenchable. Fortunately, that which was once considered forbidden love in the past is no longer criticized as harshly in this day and age. More and more people are gaining the right to love who they want to and be blessed for it. “There are no boundaries in love, love is the answer for everything”.
 
 
Your Name Engraved Herein
 
DIRECTOR Patrick Kuang-Hui Liu
WRITERS Yu-Ning Chu 
ACTORS Edward Chen, Tseng Jing-Hua & Leon Dai
MUSIC Chris Hou, Jason Huang
COUNTRY Taiwan
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