Cannot Live Without You

Cannot Live Without You
Taiwan movie poster
Directed byLeon Dai
Written byLeon Dai
Akira Chen
Produced byAkira Chen
StarringChao Yo Hsuan
Akira Chen
Lin Chih-Ju
CinematographyChang Hsiang-yu
Chou Yi-wen
Edited byLeon Dai
Release dates
  • April 18, 2009 (2009-04-18) (CPHPIX Film Festival)
  • August 14, 2009 (2009-08-14) (Taiwan)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryTaiwan
LanguagesHakka, Taiwanese, Mandarin

Cannot Live Without You (Chinese: 不能没有你) is a 2009 Taiwanese film directed by Leon Dai, a professional Taiwanese actor. It was his second film as a director. This film was also selected as the official entry for 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Dai also acted as the co-screenwriter and editor of the film.

Cannot Live Without You was filmed entirely in black and white in digital format, then transferred to film for distribution. The film has a somewhat unconventional structure, beginning at the halfway point. It is based on a true story.

Plot[edit]

The story concerns a poor Hakka dock worker Li Wu Hsiung fighting to reclaim the custody of his seven-year-old girl. Unsuccessful and clinging to the faithful daughter, he threatens to jump off a bridge.

As the film progresses, Li (played by the movie's co-screenwriter and first-time actor Akira Chen) gets embroiled in bureaucratic red tape and does all he can to get his daughter back from government institutional care.

Awards and nominations[edit]

46th Golden Horse Awards

  • Won: Best Film[1][2]
  • Won: Best Director (Leon Dai)[2]
  • Won: Best Original Screenplay (Leon Dai and Akira Chen)[2]
  • Won: The Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year[2]
  • Nominated: Best Actor (Akira Chen)
  • Nominated: Best New Performer (Akira Chen)
  • Nominated: Best Art Direction (HuaTa-Hua)
  • Nominated: Best Editing (Leon Dai)

Asia-Pacific Film Festival

  • Won: Best Director (Leon Dai)
  • Won: Best cinematography (Chang Hsiang-yi)

Macau International Movie Festival

  • Won: Best Film

40th International Film Festival of India

Durban International Film Festival

  • Won: Best Feature Film

Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

  • Won: Best Film

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Taiwanese tear-jerker wins Golden Horse award". BBC News. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Golden Horse Awards 2009 - Winners". Alt Film Guide.

External links[edit]