Watch The Falls

The Falls is a 2021 Taiwanese film that centers around three women, played by Alyssa Chia, Gingle Wang and Yi-wen Chen, who are all brought together by a tragic event. The film explores themes of grief, redemption, and the complexities of female relationships. The film opens with a scene of a woman, played by Alyssa Chia, standing on a bridge overlooking a waterfall. She is joined by her daughter, who is a teenager, and the two exchange some tense words before the daughter jumps off the bridge and into the water below. The plot then follows the aftermath of this event, as the mother is left to grapple with her grief and guilt, while also trying to maintain some sense of normalcy in her life.

As the mother struggles to come to terms with what has happened, she meets two other women who have also experienced loss in their lives. Gingle Wang's character is a young woman who is struggling to cope with the death of her mother, while Yi-wen Chen's character is a middle-aged woman who has recently lost her husband. The three women are brought together when they each stumble upon the same support group, where they begin to share their stories and form a bond.

The film is structured in a way that allows the viewer to see each woman's story unfold individually, as well as how their lives intersect with each other's. Through their interactions with each other, the women learn to confront their own grief, heal old wounds, and find hope in the midst of tragedy.

One of the strengths of The Falls is its powerful performances by its three lead actresses, who all deliver sensitive and nuanced portrayals of women going through profound emotional turmoil. Alyssa Chia, in particular, is a standout, imbuing her character with a sense of deep sorrow and self-blame that is palpable throughout the film. Gingle Wang, who was a relative newcomer at the time of filming, shines in her role as a young woman trying to find her place in the world after the loss of her mother. Yi-wen Chen also delivers a memorable performance as a woman who must reconcile with the past in order to move forward.

The film also boasts beautiful cinematography, especially in its depictions of the titular waterfall. The waterfall serves as a poignant visual metaphor throughout the film, symbolizing both the beauty and the danger of letting oneself be swept away by one's emotions.

Overall, The Falls is a moving and insightful film that examines the ways in which grief can both isolate and connect individuals, and showcases the transformative power of human connection. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of unbearable loss.