Before the Bright Day
南方時光
Synopsis
Chou, a sensitive teen craving independence, struggles as the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis hits his family's finances and worsens tensions at home. He secretly works at a billiard hall, forming a bond with gang leader Button, but faces setbacks like Button's enlistment and peer conflicts. Caught by his father, their relationship worsens. At school, his crush Min leaves due to war fears, and pressure from a teacher deepens his uncertainty.
Top Cast
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Chen Hsuan-li
Hsueh Po-Chou (Chou)
Wu Kang-ren
Hsueh Yun-Ming (Father)
May Suen
Hsu Mei-Chun (Mother)
Huang Di-yang
Chen
Cheng Yu-chieh
Mr. Cheng (Cheng)
Cheng Chih-wei
Mr. Liu (Liu)
Brian Wen
Ma Kuo-Hui (Ma)
Su Wei-hua
Button
Chang Shao-an
Bragging
Huang Gong-yun
Shasha
Chen Kuan-yuan
Big Head
Phoebe Chu
Zhen
Julian Chu
Wang Zhou-Min (Min)
Hsieh I-le
Hsueh Zhong-Bin (Bin)
Melanie Cheng
Cheng Man-Lun
Liu Chang-han
Chairman
Cheng Yi-hsuan
Class Treasurer
Lee Yung-kang
Director of Student Affairs
Release History & Theatrical Window
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Tsao Shih-han
- Screenplay & Story
- Tsao Shih-han
- Original Score
- Summer Lei
- Original Title
- 南方時光
- Country of Origin
- Taiwan
- Spoken Languages
- Mandarin
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Tsao Shih-han
Tsao Shih-han
Summer Lei
Chan Chen-chih
Once Lee
Yee Chih-yen, Lin Shih-ken, Ouyang Sing
Department Leadership Roster
Tsao Shih-han
Director
Tsao Shih-han
Writer
Lin Shih-ken
Producer
Ouyang Sing
Producer
Chan Chen-chih
Director of Photography
Eitzel Chang
Production Design
Yuan Hsiao-fan
Production Design
Once Lee
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Before the Bright Day.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Before the Bright Day
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Before the Bright Day about?
Chou, a sensitive teen craving independence, struggles as the 1996 Taiwan Strait crisis hits his family's finances and worsens tensions at home. He secretly works at a billiard hall, forming a bond with gang leader Button, but faces setbacks like Button's enlistment and peer conflicts. Caught by his father, their relationship worsens. At school, his crush Min leaves due to war fears, and pressure from a teacher deepens his uncertainty.
Who directed Before the Bright Day?
Before the Bright Day was directed by Tsao Shih-han.
Who stars in Before the Bright Day?
The principal cast of Before the Bright Day includes Chen Hsuan-li, Wu Kang-ren, May Suen, Huang Di-yang, Cheng Yu-chieh.
When was Before the Bright Day released and how long is it?
Before the Bright Day was released in 2025 with a total runtime of 1h 54m.
Who composed the musical score for Before the Bright Day?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Before the Bright Day was composed by Summer Lei.