The Dull Ice Flower

The Dull Ice Flower (Chinese: 魯冰花) is a 1989 Taiwanese film based on the novel of the same title by Chung Chao-cheng. Dealing with education and other social issues in rural Taiwan in the deprived 1950s and early 1960s, the story was adapted into screenplay by Wu Nien-jen.

Synopsis

Ku A-ming is a 4th grader at Chungshan Elementary School in Shuiyu Township. Despite being not very good in most subjects at school, he is very talented in art and has a great imagination, though most teachers don't know what he's expressing in his artwork. During a morning assembly, a new art teacher named Mr. Kuo asks if anyone is interested at joining the ECA art club. Ku A-ming is the first one to volunteer. During an art competition, the school teachers vote to decide who's going to represent the school to compete in the county; they chose the mayor's son for their own benefit. Since A-Ming lost, Mr. Kuo protests by quitting his job at the school. Before he leaves, he asks A-ming to give him one of his drawings. Sadly, after Mr. Kuo has left, A-ming dies of liver illness. Mr. Kuo sends A-ming's drawing to a children's world art competition and A-ming's drawing is the champion. The teachers start to regret neglecting A-ming's ability in art.

Awards

At the 26th annual Golden Horse Film Festival, The Dull Ice Flower was nominated for 6 awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Leading Actor, and Best Original Film Score. It won 2 awards, namely Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Film Song.^[1]

References