Cape No. 7       96540326 Ronne

“Cape No. 7” is a local movie which is combined with history, love, music, and culture. This movie has been famous since it was released in 2008. Director Wei Te-Sheng creates a Taiwanese film successfully. “Cape No. 7” reflects the struggle for the reality, memory of love, and connection with the past. It focuses on two main points, seven unsent love letters and connections with the reality.

    I think watching “Cape No. 7” is just like reading a story which happens in the reality. All elements in this film are simple but significant such as characters especially. Except the main characters, other characters are just like the normal. Those characters are closer to the figures in the reality. They don't have the beautiful appearances; they are just like the normal. In the movie, they don't have the great goals or outstanding performances. However, those characters' sincerities and simple personality attract people's attentions. Each time people expect what words or actions they will take when they show up in the movie.

Take the old postman, Old Mao, for example. When Old Mao appears, his persistence with play his four-stringed musical instrument which is a Chinese musical instrument and interesting dialogues always bring people the happiness.

   

      Besides, the seven letters connect the past with now. It reveals a touching love story between a Japanese teacher and his Taiwanese student. In the end of 1940, the teacher was dispatched to the southernmost town of Hengchun. At that time, he met a local girl with the Japanese name Kojima Tomoko. And they fell in love with each other. However, after Japan lost to Chinese, all Japanese had to return to Japan including of the teacher as the Chinese occupation of Taiwan resumed. The teacher wrote seven love letters to express his love and regret for Kojima Tomoko, who originally  planned to elope with the teacher. In “Cape No. 7”, the seven love letters were presented accompanied by the music, “The Wild Rose”. The lyrics are not only touching but also meaningful. At that time, many couples left each other because Japanese were forced to come back their country, Japan. It choked the love imperceptibly. Their love was like the rose, beautiful but stabbing. Before their lovers go back to Japan, those girls were like the roses for the boys, stabbing but ravishing.

Don't you want to see the rainbow? It’s the classic dialogue in this movie. Indeed, the director Wei Te-Sheng compares “Cape No. 7” the rainbow in the local film market. Furthermore, “Cape No.7” successfully proves that local films are interesting and make sense. It presents not only Taiwanese culture but also the struggle with the modern movies such as European movies and American movies.

However, the director, Wei Te-Sheng arises the public awareness of local films through “Cape No. 7”. He doesn't emphasize on the strong cast, the luxury scene, or the exciting plots. Instead, he focuses on the simplicity and clarity of love. Love always comes suddenly, but, it's expected. People wait for the true love. However, love is not always beautiful. Sometimes, it is accompanied by regrets. At the last scene in the movie, the connection between Kojima Tomoko and the seven love letters is regretful but yearning.