Congested Streets
The film opens with a traffic jam at an intersection as motorbikes and vehicles scramble their way out of the congestion. This scene is juxtaposed with the stillness of Mr. Zhu’s compound which embodies all the traditional aspects of Taiwan. Furthermore, the scenes in which Jia-Jen is waiting for a bus home also show the hustle and bustle of the streets. Lee dwells on these elements to highlight the clash between modernity and tradition in the new changing world. The crowded streets symbolize the transition into modernity that is occurring and threatens the Confucian ideals. In Zhu’s household, this tension can be felt between him and his daughters who are embracing this modern life.
Culinary Arts
The most prominent element in the film is food and more so the art of cooking, specifically Taiwanese cuisine. As a master chef, Zhu showcases his culinary skills at every opportunity he gets, be it for family dinner or his restaurant job. Cooking acts as a symbol of the Confucian tradition that dictates family values and norms based on gender and hierarchy. Zhu has a strict rule in the household that only allows him to cook and the daughters cannot participate. This highlights the gender norms that permit men to perfect the art of cooking and not their female counterparts.
Dinner Ritual
The dinner in the family home is a tradition that the patriarch has ensured is upheld by every member of the family. Since the daughters all reside in the house, their presence is always required despite their work schedules or personal lives. Therefore the ritual represents more than just a regular dinner as it brings them together regardless of their moods. As such the dinner table transforms into a space each one divulges new information or settles their family squabbles.
Restaurants
With food and cooking being the main aesthetic in the film, restaurants are thereby constant imagery throughout. Zhu’s place of work shows a high-end restaurant that prides itself on its quality and traditional meals by the chefs. It symbolizes respect for the craft and sticking to the traditional culture that is fading away in the modernizing world. Jia-Ning works part-time at Wendy’s demonstrating the fast-food meals that are taking over in modern Taiwan.
Church / Religion
Of all the three daughters Jia-Jen is the religious sibling in the family, which the rest view as a coping mechanism. Since her last heartbreak, she has dedicated her life to the church rather than seeking comfort in a new companion. Though this is the assumption her family holds Christianity for her is about finding salvation in Jesus Christ. Her devotion represents the clash in beliefs and religions in Taiwanese culture that coexist with the Confucian concepts.
