The Clock-Genres & Themes-國家電影及視聽文化中心 Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute

阿霞的掛鐘
The Clock

Directed : 陳芯宜 Singing CHEN

Opening : 2021-11-24 00:00:00 ~ 2028-12-31 23:55:00

Year : 2011

Color : 彩色

Length : 00:19:29

Production: Taiwan

Introduction

Unable to remember the combination to her apartment's lock, dementia sufferer Hsia decides to go to her old neighbor, CHUANG, in the community she used to live in. CHUANG is the only remaining resident fighting against an urban renewal plan that will demolish the community. He has been taking care of Hsia and her daughter since Hsia's husband died, while Hsia is now trapped in her 30 year-old memories like the clock that has stopped on her old bedroom wall….

Taiwan Catholic Foundation of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia invited four directors, CHIANG Hsiu-Chiung, Singing CHEN, HO Wi Ding and SHEN Ko-Shang, to each contribute a short film about dementia for a feature film, When Yesterday Comes (2011). CHEN juxtaposes an elderly woman's waning memories with the demolition of old communities to explore a city gradually losing its memory. Taipei's urban renewal plans leveled many old communities, and relocation stripped the residents of their way of life and community spirit. Against the unrelenting wave of urbanization, how can people live in a place without memories?

Director's Profile

Born in 1974, acclaimed Taiwanese director Singing CHEN has demonstrated in her films her unique perspective towards contemporary Taiwanese society. Her work is often fast-paced, tightly structured, emotionally layered, and with a sense of humor. Additionally, CHEN's expertise in scoring gives her films a distinctive rhythmic tone.
Her narrative features brilliantly illustrate the absurdities of modern society using magical realism, and depicting characters and their plight with considerable depth to address the society's fundamental structural problems. For years, CHEN has dedicated herself to making documentaries on theater, dance and sound art to delve into the rich and colorful lives and creations of artists.

Participation and award records

★2012 Golden Harvest Awards
★2012 Taipei Film Awards
★2012 Kaohsiung Film Festival – Outstanding Selection in International Short Film Competition for "The Clock"
★2012 Mannheim – Heidelberg International Film Festival – Special Mention for When Yesterday Comes
★2012 Hangzhou Asian Film Festival
★2012 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
★2011 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival