After watching the Taiwanese movie “Salli,” I feel compelled to address all the Sallis in the world regarding the bonds and loneliness in life that we must slowly savor and eventually let go of. It’s not about loving a specific person, but rather about embracing life itself.
“Salli” tells the story of Hui-chun (played by Liu Pinyin), a single middle-aged chicken farmer in rural Taichung, Taiwan, grappling with confusion and loneliness as her brother finds love in mainland China and her younger brother (played by Lin Bai-hong) prepares to get married. Being over thirty, born in the Year of the Tiger, she is on the verge of becoming the “Tiger Lady” of the family.
Feeling desperate, Hui-chun, urged by her niece, starts using a dating app under the alias “Salli” to engage in romantic conversations with a man from Paris, France. Despite everyone around her warning that she’s being deceived, she bravely flies to Paris to embark on an exotic love pursuit, taking a gamble on her own life.
Having lost her parents at a young age, Hui-chun took on the role of caring for her brother, living her days in the chicken coop, surrounded by chickens and dogs. She is a motherly figure to her sister, a hardworking farmer dedicating years to her family, without a life of her own. How many women around us can we truly understand their life struggles?
With the rise of online scams targeting many women, offering virtual affection lacking in reality, upon hearing such stories, most people’s initial reaction is “How could anyone still fall for scams?” However, the director of “Salli,” Lian Jianhong, believes that “these people are not at fault. They simply believe someone loves them.”
The imminent marriage of her brother is the main reason behind Hui-chun’s increased reluctance to marry. She realizes that everyone will leave her eventually to lead their own lives. When a fortune-teller predicts that single Hui-chun, being a Tiger, cannot attend her brother’s wedding as it would bring misfortune to his marriage, it adds to her heavy heart. After dedicating her life to her brother, will she end up not being able to attend the wedding?
The movie uses online dating as a plotline but ultimately tells a tale of self-discovery. How does a conservative woman, who has spent most of her life dedicated to her family with no sense of self, break free from her comfort zone and discover herself in Paris, understanding both herself and the diversity of the world?
The film combines humor and a touch of Taiwan’s rural charm, portraying daily life with sincerity. While the audience chuckles at various plot twists, the movie subtly addresses serious issues such as family dynamics, personal growth, societal attitudes towards women, and the complexities of modern love.
The romantic French atmosphere depicted in the movie poster encapsulates the allure that Paris holds for many Taiwanese experiencing Europe for the first time in organized tours. The romantic ambiance of this distant place intensifies Hui-chun’s decision to seek love.
The stark contrast between traditional and modern elements is a significant aspect of the film. From the traditional rural life of Taiwan to the vibrant international metropolis of Paris, the movie reflects two contrasting cultures and environments, highlighting the inner transformation of the protagonist. However, the transition in Hui-chun’s mindset could have been more deeply explored, leaving room for further development in the storyline. The Paris segment leans towards stereotypes lacking authenticity, possibly due to the director’s limited firsthand experience in the location.
The potential for a better life in a distant place, as depicted in the movie before Hui-chun travels to France, confronts the reality of loneliness every day. Life is not just about mundane existence but also about poetry and distant fields.
The analogy of hens laying eggs without roosters in the movie reflects on male companionship, as Hui-chun’s desperate pursuit of love mirrors the blindness associated with nighttime in hens. She yearns for a man to heal her loneliness, serving as a lifeline to breathe fresh air into her stagnant life. Will the arrival of this man ensure her future happiness, or will it disrupt her serene existence? Regardless, one must fearlessly march forward on the path that life demands.
The poignant bond between Hui-chun, her brother, and her niece is a focal point of the movie. Hui-chun’s dialogue, “I wish to be with you forever, but in the end, I am left alone,” conveys her apprehension about the future. Her young niece, facing a lack of affection from her stepmother in Shanghai, opts to return to her aunt in rural Taichung, precociously observing the facade of virtual relationships.
In the end, Hui-chun tells her niece, “When you grow up, you can decide what you want to do,” followed by “It seems there’s nothing,” highlighting the inevitability of multiple disappointments during the journey of life.
In East Asian societies, blood ties bring both bonds and inevitable destinies. A heartfelt moment at her brother’s wedding, where he expresses sincere gratitude towards his sister, resonates deeply. The reconciliation between Hui-chun and her niece, encapsulated in the niece’s words, “Even if Martin doesn’t love you, I love you,” elevates their mutual affection, offering solace to two generations of women lacking love.
The development of the family bond in the movie emphasizes a simple yet overlooked emotional philosophy: “Love can take many forms.”
While some may perceive Hui-chun’s pursuit of love as irrational, it could be seen as her self-redemption from her monotonous life. Rather than remaining confined within the limitations she imposed on herself, she ventures out on a journey to France, chasing the uncertainty of love amidst skepticism and drastic changes affecting her life.
The film refrains from providing a fairytale ending with a “prince charming” rescuing Hui-chun. Instead, it portrays her returning to her usual life, solitary yet revitalized, with multiple paths stretching ahead. With or without a future partner, Hui-chun’s demeanor radiates newfound splendor. It reminds one of a line from a song by Deserts Xuan: “What I have is just by chance, what I lose is part of life.”
The bonds and loneliness in life require personal introspection and gradual release. What we love is not a particular individual but life itself.
A song lyric goes, “If the moon hasn’t risen, the street lamp can still illuminate the window, shining on the white camellias slightly blooming.” However, I am inclined to paraphrase a line by Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Shouren: “My heart has its own radiant moon, eternal and complete through the ages.”
How can one attain happiness? Ultimately, life calls for an inward quest rather than external pursuits, seeking to discover and refine the inner “radiant moon” within. Originating from the luminosity and cultivation within, this moon knows no imperfections, illuminating the vast expanse of the universe, forever beautiful and serene.