Planting Moral Seeds: Taiwan’s Oscar Entry ‘Old Fox’ Tackles Justice and Inequality

PHOTO: IMDB

Taiwan’s submission for the Best International Feature Oscar, Old Fox, directed by Hsiao Ya-Chuan, explores one of life’s biggest dilemmas: teaching kids the difference between right and wrong while preparing them to navigate an often unfair world.

Set in 1990 during Taiwan’s economic boom, the story follows 11-year-old Liao Jie (Bai Run-yin), who lives with his widowed father, Liao Tai-Lai (Liu Kuan-Ting), a struggling musician with dreams of opening a barbershop. The boy befriends his wealthy but ruthless landlord, Mr. Xie (Akio Chen), sparking an internal conflict: Should he aspire to kindness like his father or follow the more pragmatic and selfish path embodied by Mr. Xie?

Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders International event, Hsiao shared that the story was inspired by questions from his own children. "They asked me whether there is fairness and justice in the world. I couldn’t answer easily, and those questions led me to create this film," he explained.

The film is rooted in the socio-economic disparity of Taiwan in 1990, a time when martial law had just been lifted, and the stock market created immense wealth for some while widening the gap between rich and poor. "Even today, in 2024, the gap hasn’t closed—it’s only grown wider," said Hsiao.

Unlike many films, Old Fox does not impose moral lessons. Instead, it invites viewers to reflect. "It’s about making a moral choice—universal and timeless," Hsiao noted. "Through this film, I hope to plant seeds of thought, encouraging viewers to find their own path somewhere between self-interest and empathy."

Source: Deadline