| Listen Before You Sing | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 聽見歌再唱 |
| Literal meaning | "sing once you hear the song" |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Tīng jiàn gē zài chàng |
| Directed by | Yang Chih-lin |
| Starring | Umin Boya Ella Chen Bokeh Kosang Sakinu Mason Tu Huang Sue-May |
| Music by | Chen Chien Chi |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date |
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| Country | Taiwan |
| Languages | Mandarin Bunun Taiwanese |
Listen Before You Sing Chinese: 聽見歌再唱; pinyin: Tīng jiàn gē zài chàng is a 2021 Taiwanese comedy drama film directed by Yang Chih-lin and distributed by Warner Bros. The movie stars Umin Boya, Ella Chen, Bokeh Kosang, Sakinu, Mason Tu, Huang Sue-May. Inspired by a true story, the film took 12 years to develop. It gained attention for its nearly 8-minute-long end credits, setting a record for Taiwanese cinema. The film premiered in Taiwan on April 16, 2021. It was later selected as the opening film for the 2022 Ministry of Foreign Affairs New Southbound Film Festival and the 5th Hong Kong International Children’s Film Festival, where it served as both the opening and closing feature.
Plot
The story follows a struggling elementary school in a remote Bunun tribal village in Taiwan. Faced with the threat of closure, the school forms a choir to compete in a singing competition in hopes of improving their reputation and securing funding.
The choir is led by a sports teacher, Fang Ya-ko (played by Umin Boya), who cannot read musical scores, and a substitute music teacher, Huang Yun-fen (played by Ella Chen), who reluctantly takes on the role of instructor and accompanist. Together, they train a group of Bunun children to prepare for the competition.
After an initial failure, the team regroups and incorporates Bunun's unique polyphonic vocal techniques into their performance. Their perseverance ultimately earns them recognition and helps save the school.
Cast
- Umin Boya as Fang Ya-ko, a dedicated physical education teacher who becomes the choir conductor.
- Ella Chen as Huang Yun-fen, a contract-based substitute music teacher who reluctantly joins the choir team.
- Hsu Yi-fan as Shih Chien-chiang, father of two students and Fang’s former rival
- Sakinu as Wang’s Father, father of Wang sisters, paralyzed after a work accident
- Kulilay Saya as Wang Mei-niang, a cheerful chef at the school and a source of community support
- Mason Tu as Principal Lu, A seasoned and calm principal devoted to saving the school
Awards and nominations
| Awards | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58th Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Film Score | Listen Before You Sing | Nominated | |
| Taipei Film Awards | Best Actor | Umin Boya | Nominated | |
| Taipei Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Yang Chih-lin | Nominated |
References
- Cheung, Han (April 15, 2021). "Movie review: Aboriginal children steal the show in heartwarming drama". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- Marsh, James (29 July 2021). "Listen Before You Sing movie review: Taiwanese musical drama champions its indigenous people and their way of life". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- Chiang, Michelle (16 December 2022). "Taiwanese aboriginal films screen at film festival in New Delhi". Radio Taiwan International. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- "金馬獎第58屆 完整入圍名單" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 中央通訊社. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2021-10-05.