Made in Taiwan (2005)

Overview

Yi-Chun loves dancing. She attends ballet classes at her high school, with a lot of discipline, even if the exercises are painful. "Made in Taiwan" is a sensitive portrait of a 17-year-old Taiwanese girl who shares her very personal worries and joys with us. The young woman loves to eat, but every intake of food is watched suspiciously by her family; the slightest weight gain is a hindrance to her dancing career. Her voice-over tells of her school day, which is subject to a strict dramaturgy: the alarm clock rings at 5:45 am, she is often not home until 7 pm, then she does her homework, takes a shower and goes to bed - she has neither time nor energy for a boyfriend. The annual school trip to the seaside is the perfect escape from the routine: karaoke on the bus, sweets and a fairground make for a good atmosphere. Monika Treut observes the youthful hustle and bustle without judging it, always keeping a careful eye on her protagonist's face.