The Falls (2021) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region 3

Chung Mong Hong's The Falls starts in March 2020, with daughter Xiao Jing (Gingle Wang) having to home quarantine due to a positive case in her class. Xiao Jing's stressed-out mother Pin Wen (Alyssa Chia) also gets told to stay home by her company. During the quarantine period, the tense relationship between mother and daughter simmers as Pin Wen tries to communicate with her testy teen and longs for her ex-husband to return. One night, Pin Wen has an episode and ends up in the hospital. Suddenly, the roles of mother and daughter reverse, as Xiao Jing matures overnight to take care of her unstable mother while bills pile up.

The Falls shines in its acutely realistic examination of how mental health problems can gradually and suddenly throw a family asunder. Pin Wen's fluctuating struggle and denial about her condition and Xiao Jing's fears and tenacity as a child putting on a brave front to protect her mother may feel all too familiar to those who have gone through similar experiences. The process is lonely, immediate and insular both for the mother trying to regain her grip on life, sometimes to counterproductive effect, and for the daughter determinedly trying to solve adult problems without asking for help. Alyssia Chia and Gingle Wang are magnificent in their portrayals of fragile, foolhardy yet fiercely resilient women who may fight but put each other first.

Chung Mong Hong's understated storytelling and DP's eye for atmosphere are ever present in The Falls. Since debut, Chung has been known for the distinct visual mood of his works. With A Sun and now The Falls, both co-written with Chang Yao Sheng, what stands out even more than the beautifully crisp cinematography is the tender understanding of the subtle interactions and emotions that make, break and rebuild a family in a time of crisis.