Fridae

Funny, touching and wonderfully human, CapeNo. 7 is the phenomenally successful movie from Taiwan that has smashed several box-office records to become the third highest grossing movie of all time in the country.

Everyone in Taipei has been talking about it. And since its release in Hong Kong last week, it's become the talk of the town there too. Now it is opening in Singapore, and it looks set to create the buzz it has elsewhere.

Directed by Wei Te-Sheng, it tells the story of seven ordinary people in the coastal town of Hengchun who come together to form a band. One of them is Aga (Van Fan) who left Hengchun ten years ago to pursue his dreams of becoming a singer. But after toiling in the industry and not seeing his dreams come true, he returns to his hometown a broken man.

Then there is Tomoko, a model-turned-translator who has been assigned to put together a warm-up band for an upcoming concert at Hengchun by a famous Japanese singer. Given that Hengchun isn't known for its musical talents, she struggles to find the members to form the band.

The path towards creating good music proves to be a daunting one. Tomoko and Aga fight consistently over the direction of the band. But serendipitously, Aga one day receives a parcel which contains a bundle of love letters. The letters are not meant for him - the address on the parcel is Cape No 7, which no longer exists - but the contents of the letter soon become pivotal to his life and to the band�

It's impossible to dislike CapeNo. 7. The plot may seem simple, combining all the requisite doses of drama, comedy and romance. But the film is so well-executed - from the acting to the script to the direction - that it transcends the boundaries of an ordinary picture to become honest and inspiring.

Remember: Keep your expectations modest. This isn't an expensive and sweeping epic filled stunning cinematography and special effects. Rather, it is a small movie that tells its story and characters so well that you can't help but cheer for them. By the end of the movie, you'll feel a little more human.