Taiwanese director Wei Te-Sheng’s latest work “BIG” had its grand premiere at the Nanwan Overseas Compatriot Education Center on Sunday, April 14th. The film attracted nearly five hundred audience members, with not a single empty seat in the venue. Laughter and tears filled the air as spectators were deeply moved by the film.
“BIG” tells the story of six families with cancer-stricken children, portraying the struggles and joys they face when confronting life’s challenges. Through the moving stories of these children bravely facing the threat of death with unwavering faith and courage, the film conveys the message of cherishing life and the belief that “being is the greatest gift.” It prompts the audience to reflect on the value and meaning of life.
Before the screening, director Wei Te-Sheng expressed that the purpose of making the film was for the audience to watch it, and seeing the audience’s emotional reactions of laughter and tears to the storyline was his greatest satisfaction.
He revealed that the inspiration for creating this film originated from a female college student over twenty years ago, who had to undergo an amputation surgery due to bone cancer during her elementary school years.
At that time, he had thought cancer wards were dark and hopeless places where everyone was waiting for the arrival of their last day. However, the introduction from the female college student changed his perception. He discovered that the cancer ward was like a classroom in a school, filled with sunlight, laughter, and the mischievousness of children. Moreover, these children were very mature, enduring painful treatments without crying to avoid worrying their parents.
What moved Director Wei the most was that the female college student shared that during her over a year spent in the cancer ward, she had never seen a child who had lost hope in life, and every child believed they could survive.
The children’s pure and resilient attitude towards life, facing life and death challenges daily but never giving up, deeply touched him. “Why should we give up?” she said.
During the screening at the Overseas Compatriot Education Center, the audience could enjoy Taiwanese bubble tea, sugarcane juice, kumquat honey, dried plums with tomatoes, tea eggs, popcorn, and wheel cakes before the film. After the screening, Director Wei engaged in a question and answer session with the audience, fostering interactive communication.
The film “BIG” toured the North American region for a period of 40 days, hosting over 30 screening events. The screening in the San Francisco Bay Area marked the final stop of this North American tour.