The Time of Huannan
In the Monga Delta washed by Tamsui River and Xindian River in Taipei, there is a traditional market with a history of 55 years, called Huannan. Wherever there are people, there are gangsters. In the Huannan Market in…
Set in the vibrant, 55-year-old Huannan Market in Taipei’s Monga district, *The Time of Huannan* is a deeply moving Taiwanese film that weaves time travel, family secrets, and first love into a soul-stirring tapestry. In 2022, high school student Chen Yao Hua (Hsia Teng Hung) works at his family’s butcher stall while caring for his increasingly depressed father, Chen Bao Ding. After filming his father’s strange rooftop dance, Yao Hua is mysteriously hurled back to 1991—the year his father was young and the market was alive with the energy of four inseparable friends. Mistaken for a missing classmate, Yao Hua joins the trio: a younger version of his own father (Edison Song), his father’s closeted lover An Jian (Chu Meng Hsuan), and the spirited girl Yu Kang Ming (Wang Yu Ping). As he navigates a time when being gay was far from accepted, Yao Hua discovers the painful love story that shaped his father’s life—and finds himself falling for Yu Kang Ming. More than a simple romance, this film is a heartfelt exploration of how love endures across decades, how understanding the past can heal the present, and how a single moment can echo through a lifetime. With stunning cinematography, a nostalgic 90s atmosphere, and powerhouse performances, it’s a cinematic experience that stays with you long after the credits roll.