Taiwan director and screenwriter Hsu Chao-jen is pitching “Mr. Tiger” at the 2023 Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), which launches in Taipei on Tuesday.
The film “Mr. Tiger” will be an adaptation from one of the United Daily News Prize winning story “Grandfather Tiger,” originally penned by Taiwan novelist Wu Ming-yi.
The story will be filmed in Taiwan. It revolves around A-Niu, a young man from Southeast Asia who is the son of a circus owner. He strives to find a home for an escaped tiger in the city. As Taiwan is lifting martial law, A-Niu realizes he and the tiger share a common destiny shaped by their social circumstances, ultimately leading to his transformation of a “tiger” himself.
“Through black humor and flashbacks, I want to take the audience through a trip into Taiwan’s past,” says Hsu. “In the story, A-Niu finds his identity in street protests as Taiwan opens up to democracy. The uncertain destiny of his circus’ tiger, entwined with his personal journey of discovery, becomes a mirror in which present Taiwanese identity is revealed.”
“Mr. Tiger” will be produced by Stefano Centini’s Volos Films on the heels of “My Mother’s Skin” (2023), a film ranked number six on PvNew’s Best Horror Movies of 2023. Co-producers are Rediron FIlm and Content Digital Film.
“We believe Hsu Chao-Jen is the best companion to Wu Ming-Yi’s narrative, deeply rooted in Taiwan’s everyday life, and with his bittersweet approach to life and cinema, we hope Hsu will create a unique dramatic depiction of Taiwanese lifestyle and bring to life Wu Ming-Yi’s characters in the cinematic universe,” said Centini.
Hsu commenced his career as a full-time director and screenwriter in 2000. Some of his notable works include “Breathe” (2003), which earned him the Golden Bell Award for best director and best unit drama, and “Together” (2012), selected for the 17th Busan International Film Festival. In recent years, he has partnered with renowned Asian directors Chen Cheng-Tao and Matt We on the popular TV series “A Murderous Affair in horizon Tower” (2020).
“Mr. Tiger” is budgeted at $2 million, of which $200,000 is in place.
“This is a story amidst awakening consciousness over land and human rights, a surreal melody emerges from the tapestry of reality. As time passes, it swallows the dreams that once held enchanting childhood fantasies,” said Hsu.
