Daughter of the Nile is a Taiwanese film that tells the story of a young woman named Lin Hsiao-yang who struggles to balance her responsibilities to her family and her desire for independence. The film is directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien and stars Yang Lin in the lead role, with Kao Jai playing her love interest. The movie is set in Taipei, Taiwan, in the early 1980s. Lin Hsiao-yang is a high school student who lives with her father and younger brother. Her mother passed away several years ago, and her father is a truck driver who is often away from home. Despite her youth, Lin Hsiao-yang takes on the role of caretaker for her family, cooking meals and helping her brother with his homework.
Lin Hsiao-yang is also a fan of a popular Taiwanese singer named Kenny Bee, and she spends her free time listening to his music and fantasizing about him. Her obsession with Kenny Bee is a reflection of her desire for escape from her mundane life; she fantasizes about running away from home and starting a new life with him.
One day, Lin Hsiao-yang meets a young man named Ah-sang (Kao Jai) at a convenience store. Ah-sang is a low-level gangster who works for a local boss named Hsiao (Tianlu Li). Despite Ah-sang's rough exterior, Lin Hsiao-yang finds herself attracted to him, and the two begin a tentative romance.
As their relationship develops, Lin Hsiao-yang struggles to keep her family and her feelings for Ah-sang separate. Her father disapproves of her relationship with Ah-sang, and her brother is too young to understand what is going on. Lin Hsiao-yang is torn between her love for Ah-sang and her responsibilities to her family.
At the same time, Ah-sang is pulled deeper into the criminal underworld by Hsiao. He becomes more violent and distant, and Lin Hsiao-yang begins to worry about his safety. As their relationship becomes more complicated and dangerous, Lin Hsiao-yang must decide whether she is willing to risk everything for love.
Daughter of the Nile is a slow-moving film that emphasizes atmosphere over plot. Director Hou Hsiao-hsien coats the movie in a layer of melancholy, capturing the sense of isolation and ennui that permeates Lin Hsiao-yang's life. The film's visual style is muted and naturalistic, with little use of flashy camera work or editing tricks.
At times, the film can be frustratingly vague; the characters' motivations are often unclear, and the plot meanders without a clear direction. However, this is intentional, as the film is less concerned with telling a straightforward story than with creating a mood and a sense of place.
One of the film's greatest strengths is Yang Lin's performance as Lin Hsiao-yang. Yang brings a quiet intensity to the role, conveying a deep sense of longing and a fierce determination to break free from her stifling life. She is at once vulnerable and strong-willed, and her performance anchors the film.
Kao Jai is also impressive as Ah-sang. He manages to imbue the character with a sense of danger and menace, while also showing his vulnerability and his feelings for Lin Hsiao-yang. The relationship between the two characters is at the heart of the film, and both actors bring a depth and complexity to their roles that make their love story compelling.
Daughter of the Nile is not a film that will appeal to everyone. Its slow pace and ambiguous storytelling may frustrate some viewers. However, for those who are willing to immerse themselves in the film's world, there is a haunting beauty and emotional depth to be found. It is a portrait of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world, and the sacrifices she must make to do so. It is a poignant and resonant work of cinema that deserves to be seen.
Daughter of the Nile is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes.
