The Dull Ice Flower

1989 Taiwanese film
  • 1989 (1989)
Running time
93 minutesCountryTaiwanLanguagesMandarin, Taiwanese Hokkien

The Dull Ice Flower (Chinese: 魯冰花, literally translated as lupine flower) is a 1989 Taiwanese film based on the novel of the same title by Chung Chao-cheng.[1] Dealing with education and other social issues in rural Taiwan in the deprived 1950s and early 1960s, the story was adapted into a screenplay by Wu Nien-jen.

Synopsis

Ku A-ming (古阿明) is a fourth grader at Chungshan Elementary School in Shuiyu Township. Despite being not very good in most subjects at school, he is very talented in art and has a great imagination, though most teachers cannot understand what he's expressing in his artwork. During a morning assembly, a new art teacher named Mr. Kuo asks if anyone is interested in joining the after school art club. Ku A-ming was the first one to volunteer. During an art competition, the school teachers voted to decide a winner to represent the school in a nationwide competition; most voted the mayor's son for their own interests. Since A-ming lost, Mr. Kuo protested by quitting his job at the school. Before he leaves, he asked A-ming to give him one of his drawings. Sadly, after Mr. Kuo has left, A-ming dies of liver illness. Mr. Kuo sends A-ming's drawing to a worldwide children's art competition, with A-ming's winning as the champion. The teachers begin to regret for neglecting A-ming's great artistic talent. During A-ming's funeral, A-ming's father burned his son's drawings to commemorate A-ming's passing.

Cast

Awards

At the 26th annual Golden Horse Film Festival, The Dull Ice Flower was nominated for 6 awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, and Best Original Film Score. It won 2 awards, namely Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Film Song.[2] The movie was chosen as “My most favourite Taiwan movie” in a poll organised by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute in 2023.[3]

See also

  • Chien Yao
  • Jenny Tseng
  • Tseng Shu-chin

References

  1. ^ Berry, Michael (2008). A History of Pain: Trauma in Modern Chinese Literature and Film. Columbia University Press. p. 70. ISBN 9780231141628.
  2. ^ "1989 Nominees and Winners". Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. ^ "票選最愛國片！最催淚經典《魯冰花》奪冠 不因時代被淡忘". Retrieved 14 Sep 2023.

Further reading

  • "甄妮 & 兒童合唱《魯冰花》天上的星星不說話 地上的娃娃想媽媽 ..." YouTube. Retrieved 14 Sep 2023.
  • "再见！那个写出《鲁冰花》的作家走了……-中新网". Archived from the original on 14 Sep 2023.


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