Drama/Thriller | Directed by Midi Z | 2020 | Taiwan | Mandarin | 102 min.
Nina Wu is an actress losing her grip on reality while shooting the film destined to make her a star. After eight years toiling in bit-parts, aspiring actress Nina finally gets her big break with a leading role in a spy thriller set in the 1960s. The part is challenging, not least because it calls for full nudity and explicit sex scenes, and the film’s director is often hard on her. But both the industry and the press are confident that the results are sensationally good. On the brink of triumph, though, Nina’s psychological resolve begins to crack. Written by and starring Wu Kexi, this film is reflective of her own experiences as a young actress and the #metoo moments she faced. It is a psychodrama with noir flourishes that are artistic and haunting.
“Z and Wu Kexi’s bravery in refusing to neaten and de-clutter an impossibly untidy issue should not be underestimated.” Jessica Kiang, Variety