The Time to Live and the Time to Die

Across 1947-1965, the film traces Ah-ha's growth from adolescence to adulthood. It places personal milestones within the broader context of postwar Taiwan and ongoing political tension. The era is defined by family upheaval, education, and the quiet, persistent presence of mortality.

The story unfolds in Taiwan during the late 1940s through the 1960s, a time of postwar reconstruction and political realignment under the Nationalist government. Families relocate to the island, and everyday life is colored by memories of conflict and the pressures of a changing society. The setting contrasts urban dormitories with intimate memories of home and journeys toward China, anchoring the narrative in a landscape of migration and memory.

💭 Memory

Memory threads through the film as a guiding force in Ah-ha's development. Scenes with his grandmother and the guava trees linger as touchstones of home and belonging. The narrator reinforces that memory outlives the living, shaping present choices and perceptions of family duty. The film argues that memory preserves identity long after events fade.

👪 Family

Family life anchors the narrative as illness, death, and care redefine relationships. The father’s sickly presence and his death force the family to reassess roles, while the mother’s resilience sustains them through loss. A mortician’s quiet rebuke highlights the weight of filial piety in a changing society. The grandmother’s guidance underscores the tension between tradition and change.

🗺️ War and Disruption

The film embeds a wartime atmosphere, with tank tracks on the road signaling a larger conflict shadowing daily life. The relocation to Taiwan under the Nationalist government provides historical context for personal turmoil. This backdrop intensifies the protagonist’s risk-taking and rebellious impulses. Yet it also frames moments of tenderness and memory amid upheaval.

🌱 Coming of Age

Ah-ha’s adolescence is marked by rebellion, risky behavior, and a search for meaning. He pursues a relationship that promises a future only if he can gain college admission, highlighting ambition against the odds. His later failures and his mother’s death force a reevaluation of priorities and responsibilities. The arc culminates in a quiet, reflective understanding of growing up within a fragile world.