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Adapted from Essay Liu's tearjerking autobiographical essay that won Taiwan's top literacy award, Seven Days in Heaven is a sentimental and insightful comedy about the formalities of death. Mei's father just passed away. She and relatives domestic and abroad set off for their home village to attend the 7-day mourning ritual hosted by a Daoist priest. Together the modernized generation of international urbanites experience reverse-cultural shock with rural traditions that are as fascinating as exhausting. They burn spirit money overnight near the coffin, baw on cues, and kowtow to figures behind incense sticks. The reunion lets the villagers reflect on their interaction with the old man and piece together a fuller image that couldn't be seen from each family member's perspective. After the week-long ceremony concludes, they move on with life with a deepened connection to their root. Mei finally gets to breathe and cope with the loss in her very own way.

Media

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Bonus Materials

• Making-Of, US Trailer

Sales Points

• Official Selections at Vancouver International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Hong Kong Film Awards
• Award-winning movie adaption of award-winning autobiographical writing directed by best-selling author Essay Liu and veteran producer Wang Yu-Lin

Press Quotes

'In turns absurdly funny, borderline sentimental, and emotionally astute, Wang and Liu (who also wrote the screenplay) find the validity in every kind of response to death anyone could possibly have.'

     —ELIZABETH KERR, Hollywood Reporter

'...between the comic detours and jumping through the hoops of the mourning rituals is a recognition of the process as way to cope with the emotional stress and come to terms with the loss.'

     —Sean Axmaker, Slant Magazine

'as fascinating as it is unorthodox.'

     —YTSL, Webs of Significance

'The yoking together of contrary ideas here results in an ironically pleasant, somewhat discordant harmony in which hushed emotions and a subdued, dark charm glimmer through the roaring drama and jest.'

     —Lee Hyo-won, Korea Times

'It's actually refreshing to see this most difficult and sullen of times presented with humor, especially when looking at an ancient religious ritual.'

     —Erik McClanahan, The Playlist