"Tigertail" Film Review - Boundless Potential Ultimately Left Unfulfilled

BY THE ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL TEAM

Image Courtesy of Netflix.

Image Courtesy of Netflix.

Memories are like faraway dreams born of reality but shrouded in mystique. The older the memory gets, the more that mystique grows. This theme is what we delve into with Alan Yang’s (Parks and Rec, Master of None, Little America, The Band Formerly Know as Mouse Rat) directorial debut, “Tigertail.”

“Tigertail” is a film centered around the life and memories of Pin-Jui (played by Hong Chi-Lee in flashbacks and the revered Tzi Ma in modern times). Pin-Jui grows up poor on a rice farm in 1950s Taiwan where he meets Yuan Lee (played by Yo-Hsing Fang in flashbacks and the venerable Joan Chen in modern times). These two grow up as friends and eventually discover a chemistry that transcends time and distance. As Pin-Jui gets older, he begins working with his mother at a factory - a back-breaking job done for survival but in sacrifice of his dream likely shared by many - the dream for something more. An opportunity arises for him to pursue those dreams by moving to America, but the price to be paid is one that can’t be fully realized until much later in life. That’s where we also find this older Pin-Jui, in modern times. He’s an old man, a mere shadow of the boy once brimming with life. He now has a daughter named Angela (played by Christine Ko) who is facing challenges similar to those he once did and longs for some sort of connection with her emotionally-distant father. As we bounce back in time between Pin-Jui’s youth and the present, we’re presented with the portrait of a man, faced with regret and in search of acceptance of a life filled with decisions made, opportunities lost, and the ability to move forward.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Alan Yang’s film is frustrating to say the least. It’s one of those rare films that’s enjoyable but left with so much potential to be something more… something great. The story was intriguing. The cast did an overall great job with Tzi Ma giving another brilliant performance. Relative newcomer, Christine Ko, had a few stiff moments but otherwise showed a promising future within the realm of dramatic roles. The visuals were captivating. The music (though repetitive at times) was haunting. The pacing left a bit to be desired (but one can see what Yang had in mind and the overall influence of Wong Kar-wai). There were so many ideas presented in this film… The complexity of family dynamics within East Asian culture. The difficulty to find the perfect language and opportunity between generations to share life’s stories and their underlying emotional lessons. The idea of a person looking back with regret at decisions he could have/ should have/ would have made. The idea of love gained and love lost. The idea of love found versus love made. Therein lies the source of the frustration - “Tigertail” simply felt like a book with so many chapters but not enough pages within each to tell the full story. The film tried to do and say so much but didn't allow for the time or opportunity to really delve deep enough into the details of these characters and their journeys in a way that was truly meaningful. That emotional resonance that should have been there for that last moment in the film could have and should have been even stronger. It felt as though as soon as we were about to connect on a deeper level with the characters at a given moment, we were whisked away to the next. By the end, we’re left with the impression of why we should feel a certain way but simply don’t. Perhaps though, that’s the point of the film - just as with the main character’s life, it was a story that ultimately felt… incomplete.

Image Courtesy of Netflix.

Image Courtesy of Netflix.

While there’s much to be said about what this film could have been, let’s not forget what this film is - one that is worth experiencing. Yang’s ability to craft a mood that is truly special and resonant is one that is very difficult to achieve. Most filmmakers spend their whole careers trying to get audiences to connect with the story they’re trying to tell. That’s something Yang has accomplished in leaps and bounds. His voice as a filmmaker is young but just like this film, has the potential to be something truly great. We look forward to the stories to come.

“Tigertail” is available on Netflix now.

Image Courtesy of Netflix

Image Courtesy of Netflix

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