By Joy Chiang Ling
Taiwanese film Zone Pro Site: The Moveable Feast is a 145-minute long comedy about a girl whose failed modeling career forces her to move back to her hometown to help her family’s restaurant business. Written and directed by Yu-Hsun Chen, this lengthy film boasts colorful visuals and an energetic cast of actors. The cast includes Kimi Hsia, who plays the bubbly protagonist Wan, Lin Mei-Hsiu, who stars as Wan’s goofy mother named AiFong, and Yo Yang, who takes on the role of a rugged chef named Hai.
The film’s opening bears a striking resemblance to that of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 film, Amelie. Both films introduce its quirky protagonist and make use of a large, saturated color palette. It seems that Zone Pro Site has taken inspiration from Amelie’s cinematographic style. Both films make use of vivid imagery and capture sweeping views of their local landscape; Amelie shows off a highly romanticized vision of Paris, while Zone Pro Site highlights Taiwan’s bustling markets and open-air restaurants.
That is where the similarities stop, however. Zone Pro Site is a comedy about food, culture and family while Amelie is a quirky romantic French story. Zone Pro Site’s humor is cartoonish and, at times, odd. The comedic taste might not be suited for everybody – some might find it juvenile and cheesy. But it is clear that the filmmakers really aim to please its audience with its happy-go-lucky script and charming characters.
It is hard to dislike this film despite its long run time and hit-or-miss humor. Its bright visual flair and endearing actors make up for its flaws. Zone Pro Site: The Moveable Feast is a film that will leave audiences in a good – and hungry – mood.
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