If there is a reason to study-- 2024 Melbourne Taiwan Film Festival

If There Is a Reason to Study 學習的理由

Directed by Adler Yang 楊逸帆
1h37m | 2014 | G

Achieving in tests is like having diet shakes." Said 15-year old LiAnn, "You feel plenty, but their nutrition is actually empty." From Adler's eyes, this best friend of his is a prodigy. Not only his mind is always full of philosophical thoughts -- from the nature of the cosmos to the future of society, he's also a genius in learning everything -- from making robots, animation, to playing jazz impromptu. However, LiAnn never bothers to "study". He left the conventional school system to pursue freedom in the alternative school Adler also attends. But unavoidably, LiAnn is about to face the life-determining high-stakes test -- The Basic Competence Test. Concerned, 14-year-old Adler starts to videotape LiAnn and other classmates to see how they will perform while the school is so different. Strikingly, all of his friends are giving up their passions and dreams for a "safer path". Even LiAnn. Why? While having the option to opt-out and homeschool, Adler decides to follow their steps as an experiment, but eventually gets trapped as well..

Post-screening seminar

Moderator: 
A/Prof Sue Chen, Deakin University

Panelist:
Mr Adler Yang, Film Director
Dr Sinwen Lau, University of Otago

The Film Screening in Melbourne is brought to you by

Proudly sponsored by

And supported by