Related to the director's age, this film focuses on a group of elderly people over fifty years old, but the core of what Mike Lee wants to show is not the social problems brought about by the aging trend, but the effect of the aging process on people. The complex changes brought about by life circumstances and inner emotions. People who have just entered the stage of old age are unable to adapt to the changes in their lifestyles, and become more and more lonely when their relatives and friends are gone. Therefore, the heroine in "Villa Drake" is a cameo character in this film, not only as a lead to explain the hero and heroine of this film, but more like a concluding speech at the beginning of the film. The mental depression caused by the hardships of life is precisely the epitome of the many characters in the film. Then, the director discussed the emotional problems, career problems and family problems that people face after middle age through the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Emotional problems: Mary, the woman who has nothing because of her failed marriage, can't accept the desolation of her youth, and can only survive on alcohol. She still fantasizes that relying on her youth and beauty, she can attract men to fall in love. The ambiguity between him and Joe accurately portrays her unrealistic inner feelings, and this unrealistic fantasy is the fundamental driving force behind her life. And when Joe and his soon-to-be young and beautiful girlfriend Katie appear in front of her, all her illusions are shattered, and the resulting embarrassing situation makes it difficult for Mary and Tom's family to face each other.
Career issues: Ken's visit not only brought the joy of meeting the Tom family, but more of a sigh of the passing of the years. The once noisy youth who loved rock music is long gone, and the old Ken feels deeply about the surrounding environment. of discomfort. Ken, who should retire, has always insisted on his job, not because of his love for his work, but because he is afraid of a life without support after retirement. But Ken's confession to Mary reflects his desire to step into a normal life, so compared to Mary, Ken has the courage to live.
Family problems: The death of a loved one is an inevitable process for the elderly. Tom's brother Ronnie's wife died, and his son also glared at him. Ronnie, who lived a sad life, chose to face everything silently. Compared with Ken's hope of breaking through the predicament, Ronnie is deeply caught in this cold reality and cannot extricate himself. The brother who once loved football has long been oppressed by the heavy reality and has no interest. Mary's surprise visit at the end of the film, its externalized emotional sadness corresponds to Ronnie's internalized silent sadness, which is in sharp contrast with the happy family atmosphere of Tom's family.
Throughout the film with a sad tone, Mike Lee chose Tom's warm and happy family as the main line throughout the film, in sharp contrast to the sad and depressed people around him, not only providing the film with a sense of layering, but also for the kind of old age depression offers solutions. Only by communicating with loved ones, relatives, and friends can you spend your old age in peace.
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