Céline Roustan
Caught between the present, the past, and fragments of memory, Daniel wanders the streets of Taiwan. Returning for the first time since he left years ago, he meets a man who joins him on his journey around the city he used to know. Written and directed by Charles Chen Barratt, 皮蛋 (Century Egg) is a poetic and sensorial depiction of returning to a place that used to be home. Crafted with subtlety, both the dialogue and the atmosphere convey the emotional depth of the moment.
“The film was sort of born out of this indescribable feeling we both get when we return home”
Co-written with Penny Lin, Barratt explained that, unlike their main character Daniel, they both come back to Taiwan every Christmas, meeting over coffee in Taipei – a ritual that sparked the idea for the film. “The film was sort of born out of this indescribable feeling we both get when we return home”, he shared. “Everything feels familiar, yet foreign; nostalgic, yet often haunting. I think when you leave somewhere for long enough, you leave behind memories too. Every time we go back, there’s a journey of rediscovering all that we’ve left behind”. Century Egg grew out of that sense of return – part rediscovery, part trip down memory lane – and, as Barratt admits, it is also “very much a love letter to Taiwan.”
The film is not driven by action, but by a complex and fascinating emotional journey. This unfolds through the presence of a second character who takes him around the city, and questions him on his relationship to Taiwan. Whether he is even real or just Daniel’s projection becomes irrelevant as his presence prompts reflection and unlocks buried memories. Taipei itself emerges as a character in the story, and to enhance its presence, DP Kelvin Lee captures the city beautifully. He also places Daniel in his frame with deliberate intention – sometimes adrift in the middle of the bustling streets, appreciating its energy and scenery; other times, closing in on him, magnifying the emotional potency of the story.
Justin Chien (L) and Chien-Ho Wu are excellent in the lead roles of Century Egg
Anyone who has been absent from a place for a long time will relate to the narrative of Century Egg. As we build a new life far away, when we return to that place we used call home we find that it has also changed, leaving us stranded between the two. Throughout the film, Daniel is looking for himself and how he fits in all of this, trying to belong to Taiwan. His journey guides us perfectly to the final scene, which wraps the story quietly, while bringing an effective closure to his search.
The tandem performances of Justin Chien (Kodama) and Chien-Ho Wu do excellent work in drawing the audience into the story. As Wu’s character guides Daniel through the city and into conversations that become a journey of self-rediscovery, this prompts him to address some feelings he had buried. As Daniel tries to reconnect with the place he once called home, Chien’s performance grows ever more captivating. Confronting his past to finally free himself, he balances vulnerability with quiet strength in a way that is utterly hypnotic.
Century Egg premiered at the Asia Sundance Film Festival before going on to screen at numerous festivals, including the Palm Springs ShortFest. Ahead of its online premiere, which we are delighted to host, Barratt is already developing a feature-length version of the film.