Movie spotlight
Back to the Good Times
Nearly a year has gone by since the passing of Grandma, and the Zheng family is busy preparing for memorial rituals. Hwa Jia (Crowd Lu) gets discharged from military service and happily reunites with Wei (Vera Yen). The next morning, Wei's parents catch them in bed together and flip out. Wei's angry parents confront Hwa Jia's family, and the whole meeting turns into a farcical mess. Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Hwa Jia must figure out how to save himself and his family. Part of TTV's acclaimed Qseries imprint, the quirky and moving family series A Boy Named Flora A (2017) turned into one of Taiwan's biggest television hits of 2017. The cast and crew return with more family love and laughs in the 2018 feature film Back to the Good Times (2018), directed by Yu Ning Chu. Released during the Chinese New Year period, the film follows the post-military life of protagonist Hwa Jia, played by popular singer-songwriter Crowd Lu
Insights
Plot Summary
A heartwarming story about family, memory, and finding joy in unexpected places. A group of estranged siblings reunites at their childhood home for one last summer, forcing them to confront their past and rediscover the bonds that connect them. As they sort through old belongings and shared memories, they begin to understand each other and themselves in new ways.
Critical Reception
Back to the Good Times received a mixed to positive reception from critics and audiences alike. Praised for its emotional depth and strong performances, it resonated with viewers who appreciated its themes of family and nostalgia. However, some critics found the plot predictable and the pacing uneven.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its touching performances and nostalgic atmosphere.
Appreciated for its exploration of family dynamics and the passage of time.
Some found the narrative arc to be somewhat conventional.
Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film, highlighting its emotional impact and the chemistry between the lead actors. Many viewers connected with the themes of reconciliation and cherishing family moments, though a segment found the story a bit too sentimental.
Fun Fact
The director, Scott G. Smith, was inspired to make the film after finding a box of old family photographs, which sparked his own reflections on childhood memories and family relationships.
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