Eat Drink Man Woman (1994, Taiwan; directed by Ang Lee)[The title refers to a we

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994, Taiwan; directed by Ang Lee)[The title refers to a well-known adage from Confucius, who cited the desire for food, drink and sex as basic human instincts.] Master Chef Chu is a widower who lives in Taipei with his three daughters: Jia-Jen, a high school teacher who has converted to Christianity; Jia-Chien, an ambitious airline executive; and Jia-Ning, a student who works in a fast food restaurant. Despite their disparate lives, he tries to maintain a traditional Confucian relationship with them, especially by preparing an elaborate family meal every Sunday. The other major character is Old Wen, or Uncle Wen, Chu’s colleague who advises Chu as he tries to see that his daughters get married and succeed in life. But the daughters have their own ideas about how to live their lives which often clash with their father’s expectations. The paper should briefly summarize the plot of the film and discuss any issues or themes it raises that may be related to the course. Treat the film like a text, analyzing both its overt, intended meaning and its possibly unintended meanings. That is, what is the director trying to convey to the audience? How do you react to the film and/or how does it inform your perception of the themes involved? Discuss questions such as: What did you learn about Chinese (Taiwanese) attitudes and customs that you didn’t know? What is the significance of communal meals and of food in general in the society and in the film? What does it have to say about traditional, especially Confucian, values in Taiwan in the late 1980s and early 1990s? Does it reflect changing attitudes towards them? How is the generation gap presented? What impression do you have of social changes that were taking place in Taiwan in the 1990s? What most surprises you about life in Taiwan during this period? Parameters: 3-4 pages double-spaced, in Word format 12 pt. type 500-700 words Title and your name Spell check: points will be subtracted for spelling or grammatical errors Total of 100 points possible Memorable scene: Chu: Raising daughters is like cooking a meal. You lose your appetite by the time you’re finished Chu: Eat, drink, man, woman. Basic human desires. Can’t avoid them. All my life, that’s all I’ve ever done. It pisses me off. Is that all there is to life? Old Wen: Old Chu, don’t get upset. Girls eventually leave home. It was bound to happen. Chu: I’m not upset. I hope they all move out, so I can have a quiet life. Old Wen: Quiet life? I know you. What you want, you can’t get. What you don’t want, you can’t get rid of. You’re as repressed as a turtle. That old maid of yours, Jia-Jen, will stick to you for life unless you marry her off! Chu: Marry who? Since she lost her asshole college boyfriend she’s never looked at another man. You know that. Old Wen: And now she has the perfect boyfriend: Jesus Christ. Chu: Don’t make fun of her religion! How is it that for 30 years I have put up with this kind of talk from you? Old Wen: The truth is you should be thankful someone’s around to tell the truth