The Fourth Portrait (Chinese: 第四張畫), released in 2010, is Taiwanese director Chung Mong-Hong's second feature film, following his critically acclaimed Parking (2008).
[1] While Chung Mong-Hong drew from his documentary film, The Doctor, to set the theme of The Fourth Portrait, the approach of organizing the narrative with four portraits sketched by Xiao Xiang originated from news coverage about child abuse resulting in death, as well as the experience of Chung searching for hand-drawn doodles by Wan Yu-Ho that could represent the deceased young boy's state of mind when he shot the documentary film, The Doctor.
[2] "Chung pays careful attention to lighting and colors, with cold blue grays offset by occasional saturated richness.
Landscapes, and especially magical skies, reveal a painter’s palette of tones and provide an uplift when fate appears less generous.
As the truth slowly unfolds, the police also get involved in the investigation, putting strain on Xiao Xiang's already tense relationship with his stepfather.
It is only through a significant monologue by the stepfather, that the entire event unfolds, revealing the truth behind the disappearance of Xiao Xiang's brother and the intricacies of the case.
[9][10] The second portrait is the genitalia of the delinquent character Gun Boy, played by Nadow, whom Xiao Xiang meets in the public restroom by chance.
The second painting, showing a cropped view of Gun Boy's body, likely inspired by their chance encounter in the restroom, represents Xiao Xiang's limited and naive understanding of friendship.