I used to be very lost, just wanting to work for money and fame Ethan Juan 20 timeout.com.hk Facing paradise Acclaimed Taiwanese director Doze Niu and Golden Horse-winning actor Ethan Juan tell Arthur Tam about sensitive new period drama Paradise in Service and why the history of their motherland still resonates so strongly. Portraits by Calvin Sit hina and Taiwan’s relationship together last year. But their most has never been an easy topic. notable collaboration remains The two nations share a bitter the 2010 hit Monga, which was Chistory, borne from their split after Taiwan’s submission for the 83rd the Chinese Civil War. After the Academy Awards and nabbed breakup, which saw the People’s Juan the title of Best Actor at the Republic of China established on the prestigious Taiwanese Golden Mainland, families were torn apart Horse Awards for his portrayal of – with some members escaping to Monk – an intense, yet-kindhearted Taiwan and others left in the newly and sexually confused gangster. formed communist state, never to see Juan has been immensely popular each other again. ever since, after breaking out from Acclaimed Taiwanese director overly saccharine idol TV dramas Doze Niu Chen-zer approaches and moving into more challenging this complex and ever-pertinent big screen characters. The tall, part of history in his new period charming and handsome 31-year- drama Paradise in Service, which old has already got two more films opened this year’s Busan Film slated to be released early next year. Festival in South Korea. The movie Paradise in Service is the duo’s is set after the First Taiwan Strait biggest budget film to date, with Crisis of 1954 and 1955 on the a whopping US$8.3million behind island of Quemoy (more commonly it. There were concerns for the known now as Kinmen), a part of movie when Niu was indicted on Taiwan that lies just off the coast charges of smuggling Mainland of southern China and is used as cinematographer, Cao Yu, into a strategic military base due to its Kinmen – Taiwan has strict policies ideal location. forbidding Chinese nationals on Throughout the film, Niu touches to sensitive military land – and on the tragedy and difficulty of whether the director is completely the times with a romantic, delicate out of hot water is yet to be seen. and sensitive perspective layered But luckily this incident hasn’t on top of a beautifully nostalgic affected the release of the film. and colourful setting. The film Time Out Hong Kong chats with follows the story of young, innocent both the director and his lead star virgin Lo Pao-tai, played by Ethan about the meaning behind the movie Juan, who arrives on the island one and how they’ve come to appreciate summer for a three-year conscription the history of their native land. to the famous Sea Dragons – a tough amphibious training battalion (Juan ETHAN JUAN worked out specifically for this part, exemplified by several semi-naked, Nice to meet you Ethan. Tell us sweat-drenched scenes on the beach). about your new role as Li Pao-tai... However, Lo has a problem – he Xiao Pao is like an eye. He’s just can’t swim. So, instead, he is sent like you and me. When we see all to manage a state-run brothel and, that’s happening, it’s through my in doing so, he discovers that the character’s eyes. Pao is faced with island is anything but a paradise, many choices. In some of these and is filled with deeply troubled choices, he feels like he’s made the characters. The film stars a mixed wrong decision, and can’t make cast of notable Mainland and up for them. Within his three Taiwanese actors, including Chen years of his service, he went from Jiabien, Wan Qian and Ivy Chen. a pure-souled, virgin boy to a This is the fourth time that Niu smooth-talking, gambling, smoking and Juan have worked together – man with lots of indiscretions. Life they are the Taiwanese Scorsese brings us such changes. Eventually and DiCaprio, if you will. The duo someone smacks you in the head worked together on romance flick and wakes you up, and you start to Love in 2012 and then moved on to examine the choices you have made. Doze Niu open a talent management agency And that can be scary. timeout.com.hk 21 will shape who they will eventually Tell us about the controversy over become. Pao felt like he made a smuggling in a cameraman... wrong choice regarding a friend I was wrong and I admit my mistake. that resulted in the loss of two lives. I thought it wasn’t a big deal. We This was the hardest pill for him were just making a movie. All I can to swallow. Sometimes you make a do now is face the consequences. choice even when you feel it is wrong, then spend the rest of your days How come you didn’t play a regretting it and making up for it, but character in this film like you it changes nothing. usually do? It’s a lot of work to direct and act Is this the most serious and at the same time. I’d go mad and important role in your career everyone would hate me. I want to so far? separate myself from that. I just Yes. This is a turning point for me. I want to be a proper director. Plus, used to be very lost, just wanting to some people thought I was greedy work for money and fame. But my to direct [Love] with a sex scene inner self didn’t grow during this involving myself and Shu Qi. I also period. I was confused, just like a don’t want people to be offended by child. I couldn’t handle what was to the way I look [laughs]. Had I played a come after such success. I often made role in this film, I might’ve ruined it. wrong decisions and felt regret, but I couldn’t change anything like my How do you personally resonate character. The story of this movie with this period of history? cleverly strung together the plot and I am of Mainland descent and both my life experiences. Also because of of my parents came over to Taiwan this movie, my soul grew like a seed. in 1949 as soldiers.They had no I feel like I’m looking forward to my way back home. Some of my mum’s future roles without fear. family eventually came over but nobody came from my dad’s. We DOZE NIU never bought land because we were planning to go back. Someone asked Nice to meet you director Niu. my grandfather back then if he’d What inspired you to make this like to purchase a piece of land in film and touch upon such a what is now one of the busiest areas sensitive topic? in Taipei. It was NT$0.50 ($0.13) per It feels like it’s just a story set on the three square metres back then. We island of Kinmen – but the story would’ve been rich now if we bought that the movie conveys happens to it! My dad was often unhappy, angry everybody. I recently realised that even. The only time the members it continues to happen to this day, in my family were truly happy like in the Gaza Strip, where kids was when they reminisced about I know this material are bombed to death. ISIS is always the past, but that wasn’t healthy. looking for another sacrificial lamb. Chiang Kai-shek made a promise There is always discrimination to bring them back home but after is a little dangerous in between different people – always his death, the Mainlanders were prejudice. There are lots of not mourning for him, but instead today’s media market wounds that haven’t healed within mourning a promise that would our people. We speak the same never be fulfilled. This all affected Was this a particularly How were you or your family language, are of the same ethnicity, me. My dad was later diagnosed with challenging role? affected by the historical events are of the same blood, but why ALS. He was bedridden for 20 years, When we trained for our roles, we that this film aims to depict? are we in the state we are in right hooked up to tubes before he passed. placed ourselves on that little island My grandfather was from that era now? By properly understanding I tried to imagine how he lived as a for three months without any contact and I grew up with him and heard the history behind everything, the youngster in Beijing. How much he with our loved ones. We couldn’t go his stories. I would tell him then that chains will unlock and the wounds wanted his mother. How did he end home. In the beginning, the army ‘you’ve just told me the same story will heal. That’s why I insisted on up in Taiwan? Did his unhappiness training was very hard. The trainers five minutes ago, so don’t tell me making this movie. contribute to his illness? I felt sad didn’t treat me like an actor but like again.’ Now, I understand why he for the life he led. He wasn’t the only a soldier. If I didn’t do as I was told missed his home so much and why he Are you worried that this film one – there were thousands upon there would be consequences like wanted to tell me so much about it.