Taiwanese company Andrews Film has acquired international sales rights to the drama “Daughter of the Daughter” ahead of its premiere in the Platform section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Huang Shi (Missing Johnny), the film boasts an impeccable track record from executive producers Hou Hsiao-hsien and Sylvia Chang. Taiwanese industry icon Chang also stars in the film, along with Carina Lam and Eugenie Liu (Old Fox).
The film chronicles the journey and choices of a 60-year-old woman whose daughter was killed in an accident. The older woman discovers that she is responsible for her deceased daughter's fetus from IVF and decides to confront her other daughter, who she gave birth to as a teenager. As past regrets and future responsibilities collide, the film also explores the complexities of childbearing in the LGBT community.
The film was produced by Sun Lok Productions and received project investment from TAICCA on behalf of the National Development Fund. Andrews secured the first sale to Edko Film in Hong Kong ahead of the film's world premiere in Toronto.
The film also features supporting actors Alanna Ong, Winston Chu and Tracy Chu. The producers are Shao Dongxu and Lu Hsin Lee. Yao Hong-ai is the camera operator. The soundtrack is by Agnes Liu and Zhou Shih-yi, the music is by Kai Huang, Liang Anju and Muqiu Zhang, the editing is by Liao Cheng-song and Jerry Kao, the production design is by Huarong Weren-ying and the costume design is by Shirley Kao.
Director Huang has worked closely with Ho since Ho’s 1996 film Goodbye South, Goodbye . Huang’s own work focuses on contemporary urban relationships, loneliness, and opportunity. His 2017 debut as a solo director, Missing Johnny , was selected for the Busan Film Festival, Tokyo Filmex, and Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and won awards at both the Taipei Film Festival and the Golden Horse Awards. He also stars Sylvia Chang in his 2022 HBO TV series Twisted Strings . He dissects the humor and absurdity behind death and desire.
Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage in 2019, making it one of the first jurisdictions in Asia to do so. But the complications don’t stop there.
“During Taiwan’s journey toward legalizing same-sex marriage, countless stories have unfolded. However, in this process, we see issues that extend beyond marriage, and are more complex and controversial. IVF is one of these issues, and this topic of reproduction applies to a wider population than you might expect, not just the LGBT community,” Huang said. “I wanted to tell a story that relates to this modern topic, from the perspective of a mother, a woman, or humanity itself.”
Watch the trailer for “Daughter’s Daughter” here.
