Chen Xue-zhen's "鯽魚" Role: Afraid of Ghosts, Slah's Cross-dressing Fools Lighting Director

(CNA reporter Wang Xin-yu, Taipei, July 1st) The Taiwanese film "鯽魚" was screened at the Taipei Film Festival today. Actress Chen Xue-zhen plays a Taoist nun and revealed that when performing an exorcism, she was worried about attracting too many "friends from the spirit world" and specifically lit sandalwood incense. Child actor Slah happily cross-dressed as a young boy and was not recognized by the lighting director.

The story follows a young boy, "鯽仔," who, in search of the truth about his missing mother, seeks out the shaman Aunt Hong to perform a trance ritual, travels between the spiritual and mortal realms with the local Earth God, and witnesses the history and fate of the small town buried by time. Director Chang Che-lung led child actor Slah (Chen Xin-fei), Chen Xue-zhen, Hsu Li-wen, Hsiao Tung-yi, An Yuan-liang, and Wu Tsung-en to a press conference today to share their acting experiences.

Slah said in an interview that she received many instructions from the director for her cross-dressing role as a boy, such as spreading her legs when sitting or having small fidgeting movements. To her surprise, on the last day of filming, a lighting technician said, "Little brother, excuse me." She revealed that this was her first time performing entirely in Taiwanese Hokkien, and because she didn't have a strong foundation in the dialect, she practiced her lines so many times beforehand that she cried. However, she was happy to be praised by actor Hsiao Tung-yi for her standard pronunciation in the end.

Chen Xue-zhen plays a Taoist nun in the film. She revealed that she had visited a temple to pray for a smooth shoot beforehand. Because she was worried about attracting too many "friends from the spirit world," she specifically taped down the real ritual bells and instruments during practice to prevent them from shaking too loudly. During filming, she also lit sandalwood incense, "afraid there would be too many friends on set."

Hsiao Tung-yi has gained attention in recent years for his many roles. He joked that because he has acted in theater, he has tried all sorts of "weird roles," even playing a pill. Chang Che-lung said that he is already working on a new musical script and hopes to invite Hsiao Tung-yi to be the male lead.

The Taipei Film Festival runs from today until the 11th, and the Taipei Film Awards ceremony will be held on the 11th. (Edited by Li Shu-hua) 1150701

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