Shu Qi on Creating Her Directorial Debut "Girl" and the Impact of Hou Hsiao-hsien

      While preparing for her debut as a feature director, Taiwanese actress Shu Qi encountered a screenplay that left her feeling troubled and confused. “I hit a wall,” she shared at a press conference for the Busan International Film Festival. “I couldn’t progress. Hou Hsiao-hsien suggested I tell stories I’m familiar with, share the tales I wish to tell, even if it meant exploring the scars of my childhood.”

      The outcome is Girl, a poignant coming-of-age narrative primarily set in 1988 Taipei. Bai Xiao-ying portrays the young Hsiao-lee, who shares a cramped apartment with her younger sister, mother (Joanne Tang Yu-chi, a singer known as 9m88), and her alcoholic stepfather Chiang (Roy Chiu Tse). The film depicts rape and physical violence in stark detail, alongside Hsiao-lee’s attempts to escape her harsh reality.

      This film is among the 14 titles featured in the new Competition category at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Shu Qi spoke with journalists the day after a full house screening.

      Shu attributed her motivation to direct to Hou Hsiao-hsien. “I was content as an actress,” she remarked. “I never aspired to direct, but Hou encouraged me to take a shot at it. His influence is evident in my approach to camera movement, in the extended takes at Hsiao-lee’s school, in the market, at home, and even in the production design.”

      She continued, “I also learned from him the importance of creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere on set.”

      The director has enjoyed a long-standing career as one of Taiwan’s most beloved performers, excelling in romantic comedies like If You Are the One (2008), along with prominent roles in Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Millennium Mambo (2001) and the martial arts epic The Assassin (2015).

      “The contrast between acting and directing is stark; when I act, I get to wear pretty clothes and don't have to think too much,” she chuckled. “As a director, I’m constantly filling in details, addressing questions, and making choices. It’s significantly more challenging.”

      Tackling scenes that reflected her childhood added to the difficulty. Producer Yeh Jufeng mentioned that “she cried often on set. It was daily. Some were concerned about her directing capabilities, but after the first scene, it became clear she knew precisely what she wanted.”

      While researching the 1980s, Shu uncovered several tales of children subjected to domestic abuse, which influenced her approach to the script. Nonetheless, she infused her own experiences into crucial scenes.

      Bai Xiao-ying delivers intense performances in scenes where she is threatened by her father. At night, she fears sleeping in her bed, resorting to hiding in a cabinet. “She fully immersed herself in the role,” Shu stated. “I wanted her to feel a bit isolated during filming. The emotional results are evident on the screen. However, if there ever seemed to be a potentially traumatizing situation, we were prepared with psychological support. I made it a priority to ensure the actors felt secure.”

      Shu acknowledged that her view of the script shifted once filming commenced.

      “I believed the story was centered on Hsiao-lee,” she explained. “But in the first long take, when her mother wakes up in the morning, prepares breakfast, sends the girls to school, tidies the house, cleans the bathroom, does the laundry, and washes the dishes—all these tasks that the camera captures from behind her—it moved me to tears.”

      She paused, becoming emotional at the recollection.

      “After filming that scene, I began the journey of reconciling with my mother. I started to grasp the immense responsibilities she bore. The pressures mothers face are immense, perhaps greater than those on fathers who only need to work. For the first time, I recognized my mother’s perseverance and strength. She didn't have the opportunity to express her feelings or articulate love to me, and now I can forgive her for that.

      “The core message of Girl is that you shouldn't feel isolated. You are not alone. It’s crucial to find peace within yourself, something I had to achieve myself.”

      Girl was presented at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.