Taxi! Taxi! (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

After earning his PhD in microbiology, Professor Chua struggled to find employment in his field despite his qualifications. After numerous failed job attempts, he chose taxi driving as a practical way to support his family, though he kept this change secret from his relatives initially.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Chua on a rooftop, suggesting his despair over his career situation.

• professor chua
• microbiology
• taxi driver
• unemployment
• career change

Ah Tau is portrayed as a kind-hearted taxi driver who volunteers to help newcomers. Despite mistaking Chua for attempting suicide and receiving fines because of the misunderstanding, Ah Tau saw potential in Chua and chose to mentor him, demonstrating the film's theme of unlikely friendship.

Foreshadowing: The rooftop incident, though comedic, establishes Ah Tau's caring nature from the first scene.

• ah tau
• professor chua
• friendship
• taxi driver
• mentorship

When Jonah and his girlfriend unexpectedly became passengers in his father's taxi, he felt embarrassed and ashamed that his father, a former professor, had taken up taxi driving. This revelation created a generational rift, as Jonah struggled to accept his father's new career path.

Foreshadowing: Chua's secret-keeping about his job foreshadows the family conflict that would arise.

• jonah
• father-son relationship
• taxi driver
• embarrassment
• family rift

Regina, a young woman who dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, suffered a car accident that impaired her vision. The loss of her sight meant she could no longer pursue her career dreams, leading her to a rooftop crisis. Professor Chua intervened and shared his own story of overcoming setbacks, which helped her regain hope.

Foreshadowing: Regina's ambition to be a designer and her discussions about her future plant seeds for this devastating turn.

• regina
• fashion designer
• vision loss
• suicide attempt
• hospital

After her hospital crisis and recovery, Regina transitioned from her fashion design aspirations to becoming a DJ. This new career path represents her resilience in adapting to her changed circumstances, and she eventually enters into a romantic relationship with Ah Tau.

Foreshadowing: Regina's rooftop moment with Chua marks her turning point toward accepting a different future.

• regina
• dj
• fashion designer
• new career
• romance

The recurring police officer character serves as a comedic yet thematic device. His lengthy warnings about illegal U-turns highlight how rules and regulations constantly shape the characters' lives, much like how societal expectations pressure Chua to maintain his professional status. The scene also provides humor while reinforcing the film's exploration of life's unexpected detours.

Foreshadowing: The U-turn motif parallels the characters' own career and life pivots throughout the film.

• police officer
• u-turn
• rules
• traffic
• comedy

Even after reclaiming his academic position, Chua continued driving taxis by choice. This decision reflects how the experience transformed him, through mentoring Ah Tau's son, helping find his mother-in-law, and connecting with the taxi community, creating a sense of purpose he didn't want to abandon.

Foreshadowing: Chua's initial rooftop despair gives way to finding genuine fulfillment in his unconventional path.

• professor chua
• taxi driving
• professor
• continued driving
• purpose

When Chua's mother went missing, he mobilized the entire taxi driver community to search for her. This crisis forced Chua to fully embrace his new identity and community, moving beyond his academic worldview. The collaborative search deepened his bond with Ah Tau and demonstrated the support network he had gained.

Foreshadowing: Chua's earlier reluctance to fully commit to the taxi world shifts during this crisis.

• mother
• missing
• taxi community
• search
• turning point

Ah Tau and Regina's relationship developed gradually through their taxi encounters. After Regina's personal crisis, Ah Tau supported her during her recovery, and their connection deepened over time. The film shows them finding equilibrium in their relationship, built on shared history and mutual support.

Foreshadowing: Regina's early appearances as a passenger hint at her eventual romantic connection with Ah Tau.

• ah tau
• regina
• romance
• relationship
• taxi

Jia Jia became upset when he discovered that both his father and Regina had edited a photo montage of his long-lost mother without his knowledge. Feeling betrayed, he stopped communicating with Ah Tau. This family conflict reflects the deeper issues in Ah Tau's personal life and adds emotional weight to his character's journey.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Jia Jia's connection to his mother's memory as a sensitive topic.

• jia jia
• ah tau
• son
• photo
• family dispute

When Chua drove his mother-in-law to the airport in Ah Tau's taxi, he had to hide his new profession while simultaneously dealing with Ah Tau's concerns about his own wife and mother-in-law learning the truth about their secret arrangement. The scene created layered tension as both men risked exposing their deception.

Foreshadowing: The recurring motif of keeping secrets plants the seeds for this tense moment.

• mother-in-law
• airport
• secret
• taxi
• tension