"A chronicle of displacements, cultural, familial, adolescent, and romantic, When Loves Comes is also in its own way an ode to female solidarity as well as a coming-of-age tale as its feisty young heroine gains the courage to step into herself while preparing for the role of matriarch in accepting her responsibility towards those around her.
One of the most striking aspects is the realistic childbirth scene, where Chang Tso-chi even includes a real newborn baby and authentically portrays the process of cutting the umbilical cord, adding a heightened sense of realism to the film.
In this heartfelt and highly acclaimed film directed by Chang Tso-chi, women take the lead, and their roles as the heads of their families are deeply and carefully explored.
[9] Set in a suburban seafood restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan, the death of a family member brings forth hidden truths and secrets.
While focusing on the theme of underage pregnancy, the film not only explores social issues but also intricately portrays the complexities and conflicts within a three generational Taiwanese family.
[11] In this environment of decline and decay, Laichun, who dislikes studying and has an on-and-off relationship with her boyfriend Mou Zhongyu (played by Wu Kang-ren), experiences a great sense of insecurity.
However, the family is forced to reconsider their ways of living together in this tense atmosphere, and the seemingly unchangeable fate slowly starts to turn towards a positive direction.
When Dark Face passes away after being hospitalized for a sudden illness, Laichun begins to understand her father and her two mother, and decide with her family to keep the baby.
When Love Comes's original soundtrack, featuring instruments such as piano, strings, and accordion, recreates the melancholic atmosphere depicted in the film.