Starry Starry Night (film)
A 2011 fantasy drama based on Jimmy Liao's illustrated novel.
*Starry Starry Night* (Chinese: 星空) is a 2011 fantasy drama film adapted from an illustrated novel by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao. The film is a co-production between Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, directed by Tom Lin Shu-yu, with Xu Jiao and Erek Lin in the lead roles. It premiered at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival under the "New Currents" section, and hit theaters in China on November 3 and in Taiwan on November 4, 2011.
The story follows Xiao Mei, who once lived a simple life with her grandparents in the mountains. After moving to the city with her parents, she feels disconnected and longs for the carefree days of lying under a starry sky. Her parents are burdened by work stress and a failing marriage. One day, Xiao Mei is drawn to a Christmas carol played on a recorder by her neighbor, Xiao Jie, a new student at her school who is often bullied for being perceived as arrogant. Their friendship deepens when Xiao Mei defends him from bullies. Together, they decorate their classroom for a competition, and Xiao Mei begins shoplifting after seeing Xiao Jie do it. She also shares her knowledge of French art with him while trying to replace a missing piece from a "Starry Starry Night" puzzle.
After her beloved grandfather dies, Xiao Mei's parents announce their divorce. Devastated, she runs away with Xiao Jie to the wooden shack she once shared with her grandparents. On the way, they get lost in a forest but find shelter in an abandoned church. There, Xiao Mei learns about Xiao Jie's troubled family, which shifts her perspective on her own problems. They reach the shack the next day, but fog blocks the stars, and Xiao Mei falls ill with a fever. Xiao Jie carries her back, briefly glimpsing the night sky she described. He contacts their parents while she sleeps. When Xiao Mei wakes, she is in a hospital. Years later, as a 10th-grade student, she receives the missing jigsaw piece. Even later, in France on Christmas Eve, Xiao Mei and her stepsister spot a puzzle display with a missing piece. Entering the shop, Xiao Mei finds a "Starry Starry Night" puzzle with the same missing piece as hers.
The cast includes Xu Jiao as 13-year-old Xiao Mei (Hsieh Xin-Mei), who escapes into fantasy to cope with family troubles and gains confidence through her adventure with Xiao Jie.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Tom Lin Shu-yu
- Producer
- Chen Kuo-fu / Wang Zhong-lei
- Writer
- Tom Lin
- Based On
- Starry Starry Night · Jimmy Liao
- Starring
- Xu Jiao / Eric Lin Hui-min
- Music
- World's End Girlfriend
- Cinematography
- Jake Pollock
- Editing
- Cheng Hsiao-tse / Xiao Yang
- Distributor
- Huayi Brothers / (China) · Atom Cinema / (Taiwan)
- Released
- 11 October 2011 · Busan · 2011 · 11 · 3 · China · 2011 · 11 · 4 · Taiwan
- Runtime
- 120 minutes
- Country
- Taiwan / China / Hong Kong
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Xiao Mei, a 13-year-old girl who moves from her grandparents' mountain home to the city, where she finds her parents distant and stressed. She befriends a troubled neighbor, Xiao Jie, and together they run away after her grandfather's death and her parents' divorce announcement. Their journey to a childhood shack leads to a night in an abandoned church and a feverish encounter with the stars. Years later, in France, Xiao Mei encounters a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece matching her own.
Reader's Guide
Starry Starry Night represents a successful co-production between Taiwan and China, with its script remaining unchanged despite potential censorship scrutiny. Director Tom Lin, who had previously made Winds of September, aimed to create a film based on his favorite illustrated novel. The film was shot at Taipei Railway Station over two days in March 2011 and at other locations in France, chosen for being 'less popular for filmmaking.' Critical reception highlighted the film as a 'visual feast' and praised Xu Jiao's performance for carrying the film with poise and charm. The film's touching epilogue was noted as initially seeming unnecessary but ultimately selling itself in the final moments.
Did You Know?
- The film was first showcased at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival's 'New Currents' section.
- Filming at Taipei Railway Station occurred over two days in March 2011, moved forward due to planned station renovation.
- The film's budget was increased to US$7 million after Huayi Brothers picked it up.
- The illustrated novel by Jimmy Liao is one of director Tom Lin's favorite books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Starry Starry Night (2011)?
It is a 2011 fantasy drama film produced as a joint venture between Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong. The movie was directed by Tom Lin Shu-yu and adapted from Jimmy Liao's illustrated novel of the same name.
Who plays the lead roles in Starry Starry Night?
Xu Jiao and Erek Lin carry the film as its two principal performers. Their characters anchor the story's emotional core as it moves between rural mountain life and the urban setting.
What is the source material for Starry Starry Night?
The screenplay is drawn from an illustrated novel written by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao. Liao's original picture-book storytelling style heavily influences the film's visual and narrative tone.
What happens in the story of Starry Starry Night?
The plot centers on a girl named Xiao Mei who grows up close to nature with her grandparents in the mountains before being relocated to the city with her parents. Once in the urban environment, she struggles with a deep sense of disconnection from the world she once knew.
Where and when did Starry Starry Night first screen?
The film had its world premiere in the 'New Currents' section of the 2011 Busan International Film Festival. It subsequently opened in Chinese theaters on November 3, 2011, and in Taiwan on November 4, 2011.
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