The Gangster's Daughter

The Gangster's Daughter is a 2017 Taiwanese film directed by Mei-Juin Chen starring Ally Chiu and Jack Kao. This distinctive film uniquely combines elements of drama, comedy, and social commentary, offering viewers an unexpected journey into Taiwan's underbelly.

The film's primary focus is on the relationship between a single father Keigo, played brilliantly by Jack Kao, who is a low-level mob boss on Kinmen Island, and his teenage daughter, Shaowu, portrayed by the fresh talent Ally Chiu. Mei-Juin Chen as the film's director and writer paints a beautifully poignant tale of familial bonds and moral dilemmas set against the backdrop of organized crime.

The plot of The Gangster's Daughter unfolds when Shaowu, who grew up with her grandmother in mainland Taiwan, has to suddenly move to Kinmen Island with her father Keigo after her grandmother's death. Living with Keigo, who she barely knows, in an environment swirling with criminal elements ranging from gang fights to smuggling, Shaowu faces an entirely new world. This is a deeper immersion into the world of Kinmen Island's rustic small-town life and its quirky inhabitants, as well as its intricate network of organized crime.

Mei-Juin Chen's storytelling prowess creates a unique juxtaposition where the quaint and picturesque setting of Kinmen Island serves as a stark contrast to its rampant lawlessness. This unique setting enriches the complex character dynamics and adds flavor to the film's narrative.

Jack Kao gives an outstanding performance as Keigo with his deeply nuanced portrayal of a single father struggling to redefine his criminal existence and raise his headstrong daughter simultaneously. He owns the narrative as a middle-aged gangster living a life of violence and unpredictability, torn by his conflicting roles as a father and as a mob boss. His character complexities are as diverse as his loyalties, which lie in delicately balancing the line between his duties and responsibilities.

Stealing the spotlight, Ally Chiu’s performance as Shaowu is compelling. Shaowu is a feisty teenager who is thrust into a world she barely comprehends, let alone accepts. As she grapples to understand her father's world, she exhibits her innocence, rebellion, and emotional depth all at once. Shaowu, enrolled in Keigo's old school, is dealt with harsh reality and hostility from her peers, teachers, and the community due to her father's notoriety. Despite all these challenges, she remains strong-willed and resilient, navigating her way through this maze of confusion and chaos.

The journey of the estranged father-daughter pair is not only heart-warming but also offers an intense exploration of identity, loyalty, and acceptance. Watching their relationship evolve as the pit-falls and upsides to their new life start to become more apparent is an experience every viewer is bound to cherish. The Gangster's Daughter isn't just about the gray world of crime, but also a story of love, loss, and familial bond.

Despite the seriousness of the themes, the movie cleverly employs the trope of dark comedy. It does not shy away from throwing the occasional humorous dialogue or comic sequence, chiefly revolving around the local gangsters' clumsiness and Shaowu's eccentric classmates. This approach lightens the otherwise dark themes of the film and keeps the viewers engaged and connected.

Moreover, the cinematography of The Gangster's Daughter enhances the movie's charm with breath-taking visuals of the Kinmen Island, capturing its cultural essence and local life while elegantly juxtaposing it with the grit of its underworld. The occasional use of melodies lends further depth to the scenes, providing a musical backdrop that beautifully captures the complex emotions at play.

The Gangster's Daughter, thus, offers an intriguing portrayal of life in Kinmen's underworld, effectively using the dichotomy of its serene setting and rampant crime activities. With the titular Gangster’s daughter as the lens to perceive this world, the film presents a unique narrative that astutely comments on the Taiwanese society and the inherent challenges of living life on both sides of the law.