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On the surface, The Dream of Taipei Moto, which depicts the development of affection between A-Hsiu and a lame girl P’ei-Chen, seems like a love story. However, in actuality, this film, through the process in which A-Hsiu rescues P’ei-Chen, manifests the protagonist’s inner longing to “prove himself”.
When we are eager to help others solve their problems, the real problem actually lies not in them but rather in us. The tragic thing is that when the other person comes round, we are just as oblivious to our own problems as before. Consequently, we are trapped in a heroic tragedy – I helped her grow up, but now she no longer needs me. “To sacrifice unconditionally will bring dignity instead” is this film’s theme. The film’s protagonist leaves his home to live in Taipei, originally to prove himself, but because he lacks higher educational qualification and has no particular skills, all he can do is deliver shoes in order to make ends meet. Unexpectedly, taking care of other people gives the protagonist a new opportunity to prove himself. To one’s surprise, he however goes beyond his means to make himself impressive, and in the end, this causes him to not only lose his job, but also his partner. On the surface, the protagonist appears to have nothing left, but he has actually recovered his “dignity”.
In this essay, in addition to conducting an analysis of the subject, the genre of melodrama, and the creative process, the author will also analyze the text of The Dream of Taipei Moto in terms of the restorative three-act dramatic structure. Additionally, the discrepancies between the practical and anticipated imagery, and the film’s aesthetic strategy during the creative process will be discussed in depth.
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