In a secluded village, located in the wooded rural mountains of Taiwan, live three energetic and optimistic young boys. Growing up far from the hustle and bustle of Taipei their lives may appear simple, but their distance from the big city hasn’t secluded them from the hardships of life. Growing up without parents, Wutan was raised by his grandmother and elder brother. Despite being a bit of a troublemaker, Watan does everything he can to help support his small family, but there’s only so much a kid can do. Growing up with a loving father, Chen Hao enjoys life in his small village. Still, he can’t help but wonder what life might be like, had his parents never divorced. Longing for a mother whose sole connection comes by way of an occasional gift sent from Taipei, Chen Hao can’t understand why she chose to leave him and his father behind. Meanwhile, Lin Shan wonders what life might be like if he lived with parents who could actually get along. With a father who spends much of his time drunk and a mother who has had enough, Lin Shan often finds himself wishing things were different. In an effort to provide the village children with an escape from their troubles at home, Miss Lawa starts an afterschool program. Enamored with their pretty teacher and her incredible singing voice, Watan, Chen Hao, and Lin Shan are convinced they’ll be able to find someone in Taipei willing to recognize her talent. Setting out on a journey to do just that, they begin a journey that will change their lives forever. (Source: Viki) Edit Translation
- English
- 中文(台灣)
- Italiano
- magyar / magyar nyelv
- Native Title: 只要我長大
- Also Known As: Lokah Laqi , Zhi Yao Wo Zhang Da , Ji Yiu Ngoh Jeung Daai , 只要我长大
- Screenwriter & Director: Laha Mebow
- Genres: Life, Drama
Where to Watch Hang in There, Kids!
Cast & Credits
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![Esther Huang in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)]( "Esther Huang in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)")
Esther HuangMiss La WaMain Role -
![Buya Watan in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)]( "Buya Watan in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)")
Buya WatanWatanMain Role -
![Wang Wei in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)]( "Wang Wei in Hang in There, Kids! Taiwanese Movie (2016)")
Wang Wei[School Teacher]Guest Role
Reviews
Three vivacious boys and the mountain they live on
Hang in There, Kids! was written and directed by Taiwan's first female indigenous director, Laha Mebow. The film features three mischievous boys who live on a picturesque mountain and are about to graduate from the 6th grade. Though they go about their days in a joyful, care-free manner, their smiles hide very real pain.Watan who is an orphan living with his grandmother is the de facto leader of the group. He is overjoyed that his high school dropout brother has returned from Taipei to help with his grandmother's farm. Watan also harbors a not-so-secret crush on his afterschool teacher, Lawa, who is confined to a wheelchair. Chen Hao lives with his aging single father and longs for his absentee mother. The last of the group and the shortest is Lin Shan who wants to be an NBA player like Jeremy Lin. His father drinks too much and belongs to a band that struggles to find gigs in Taipei.
Whether pinching Watan's grandmother's veggies or Chen Hao's dad's peaches to sell illegally on the road or running away to spend the night with a French couple on the mountain, the boys always find joy in the moment. Despite their troubles they look for fun and adventure wherever they are. A fieldtrip to Taipei with their class gives each of them a chance to discover or share something important.
Music is woven throughout the film whether it is a naughty ditty the boys sing, a father's heartfelt apology and love for his son, or a woman's song of love and life after a crushed dream. The songs are skillfully used to not only enhance the emotions in a scene but also to tell part of the story.
The three boys carry the weight of the film on their small shoulders as the conflicts in this slice of life film are minimal. Watan's brother becomes involved with marijuana growers looking for land, Granny needs new teeth, and there's the small meaningful disclosure of the teacher's former life, but it's not like there are huge plot revelations. Most of the film is played out through the boys' daily lives and their search for a mother, a father, or a gift of love to a teacher. The boys' natural and energetic performances brought to gentle life the telling of their stories. If ever there was a setting that could be billed as a co-star it would be the scenic, mysterious mountain the boys traverse during their adventures.
There was a peaceful mood to this film. Even with the familial problems, the boys were close and tactile with each other and the other adults in the film. Lawa may have been in a wheelchair, but her heart soared to the children she cared for and the mountain around them. A sense of community and pride defined the story and the Sqoyaw people within it. Hang in There, Kids! was 90 minutes of friendship, family, and a little heartache. The mountain had its dark side but there was always something to discover. "What do you know? Maybe great things will happen." This tranquil, touching film about childhood is one to try if you enjoy this genre.
5/26/23
