スイス人監督マリア・ニコリエが語る、台湾での自然と撮影について | Taipei Tonight Show

スイス人監督マリア・ニコリエが語る、台湾での自然と撮影について | Taipei Tonight Show

When you first casted, he was supposed to be a girl instead of a guy? How do you know that story? We have our ways. And then you guys had to do a lot of filming in that car. The sound guy, he was very persistent on, like, you know, windows shut, ventilation off. -Ventilation off.
-Yeah. Man, I hate to imagine what it smelled like in there. And I remember I was in the village, biking under the rain, like, saying hi to people, like, hiding from the rain. So that’s something that’s different from where you come from. Yeah. -Typhoon in Taiwan is quite a scene.
-We don’t have that, no. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s Taipei Tonight show. I’m your host, Dennis Nieh, and we are so excited to bring you today’s episode. That’s right. We are on location again. Now, this season is packed with all kinds of exciting topics. And today is one of those. We’re out of the studio because every year, there’s one month in Taiwan in which a Taipei film festival takes place. Now, during this time, some of the top talents in Taiwan are featured filmmakers, directors, crew, creators, and of course, the stars of Taiwan. Today, we’re featuring a very special film that’s coming your way. Taiwan is an entertainment hub with films averaging from 20 to 25 to 30 films every single year. But once upon a time, in its heydays, Taiwan produced over 200 films annually. But of course, since then, the landscape has changed a lot. We have OTT platforms. People are watching television. Well, we’re watching content on our cell phones now. But Taiwan is still vibrant with creativity. And this year, there’s a very special film. The crew and the creative team are mostly from Taiwan, with some great ideas from talents from abroad. We have actors from all over the island and from abroad as well. So today we have the director and the cast of “Roads End in Taiwan” right here with us on today’s show. So let’s welcome them. Welcome to the Taipei Tonight show. Congratulations. Making a film is not an easy task, but you guys pulled it off. I saw it. I loved it. It was wonderful. So, ladies and gentlemen, this is the cast and the director, Maria. And then we have Pierre. And we have Elliot. And then, of course, our good friend. Rhydian, you’re here again. -Congratulations, man.
-Hello. -You got a new project.
-Yes, I do. Oh, wow. This is a very interesting film. The storytelling, which I love because it’s not the typical formula that we see in a lot of commercial films. There’s a lot of depth. There’s a lot of beauty. There’s a good underlying storytelling. So let’s start with you, Maria, the director. You wrote and inspired the story to come to life. But your career was mostly with documentaries. This is your first feature storytelling project? Yeah, it is. I did some feature movie, but short so… And I did a lot of documentaries in my country. I’m much more known for documentaries. That’s why maybe this movie is a road movie because we really discover Taiwan. Like in a documentary, when you shoot, you know, a road. But it is really a feature movie. It’s a family drama. And I must say, now I want to do only feature movies. Maybe not a road movie again. -Maybe not, because it’s really tough.
-Okay. -Okay.
-But that was an amazing adventure, yeah. Can you give us a brief synopsis of what the story… What the audience can expect? I’m not sure I want to tell the story to the audience. But what they can expect is a Swiss tourist like me. When I was, you know, traveling around Taiwan, I was really a tourist. A bit clumsy, a bit naive, like a lot of Swiss tourists. And that’s the beginning. But then I wanted him to be close to Taiwanese people. And that’s why my Swiss tourist is traveling with his 2 half-brothers. And they are all coming together in search of the father’s inheritance. And that’s the road movie. They’re looking for the inheritance. But in fact they are all looking for themselves. And at the end, they find each other. Okay. So that’s the story. 3 half-brothers on a road trip. Maybe a fish out of water story as well, for some of you. It’s a very attractive story. And we have some clips from the trailers. Let’s check it out. Wow, that’s gorgeous. So it is, in fact, that the landscape that brought you to want to do something here in the first place. And I understand that the landscape actually gave you inspiration -to make this storyline as well.
-Yep. I was really astonished by the sea in Taiwan. You know, it’s very powerful. Yup. Not like in Europe, especially the East Coast. I was really amazed by the sea. It’s a bit, sometimes scary. I really thought that I need my protagonist to be connected to water. I need to give water a big place in the movie. And it’s on the beach that there’s the most violent scene with Stephen, with Rhydian. And I really built it by watching. Now it’s very difficult to say how could you make that story just watching the scenery? But that is what happens. -Right.
-Like there’s a hotel in the story, a love hotel. So it brings a story in that love hotel. And suddenly I was obsessed about that love hotel. But it’s a kind of very personal… It’s very difficult to explain. -And that’s the beauty, you know.
-Gotta have it. Well, we’re an island, so any direction you drive, you’re bound to hit water very soon. Speaking of water, I understand that one of the leads, Pierre, you had to prepare for this role. You had to take swim lessons, I heard? Yeah. What? Like for 6 months. -Did you not…?
-Yeah, no, I didn’t like to swim. -What?
-Yeah, I had to learn… So this is a story where the director wants to have a deep connection with water. And then we find a dude that cannot swim. No, I mean I can swim now. You swim now? I mean, I could swim a little bit, but I was not like the character. He’s a swimming instructor. -Oh so you…
-Yeah. So I had to learn how to swim like, not Olympics level, but like professional. You need to look like -you knew what you were doing, right?
-Yeah, exactly. Like, just for 20 seconds. Just for action and then cut. For a 20-second scene, this guy took swim lessons for 6 months? It’s the acting job. -You have to pretend.
-But you look good. -Okay.
-I mean, that was one of the opening scenes, so… When you first casted, he was supposed to be a girl instead of a guy? How did you know that story? We have our ways. So what happened there? I think I was casting only woman and I was never very happy. And maybe, you know, I have 2 brothers. And suddenly, it was connected too much to my own life. And then Pierre-Antoine, I’ve been working with him before, and he came for another role, which disappeared, by the way. Suddenly I saw him, but it’s him. And I changed all the script and it became 3 brothers. And I’m very happy about that because even if it’s a male story, it’s a woman who’s telling the story. So I think it’s not sweet, but tenderness. I’m telling the story of these 3 brothers with tenderness. I loved it, yeah. And then suddenly the twist turns. You come to Taiwan, and Rhydian, you walk in. I don’t know if you’ve seen his past work. I mean, he’s like, you know, girls fall in love with him, with all his work. But in this movie, man, you look different because this is a family drama. You’re not coming out looking like -the cool, you know, stud…
-No. Most of your other… This is a big change for you. That was what I was going for, actually. Is that what you…? I didn’t pull it off? -The slob looking?
-Yeah. No, but seriously, you know, congratulations. -Thank you.
-I mean, I think this role -is a big change for you and your career.
-Thank you. I mean, was that something you’re going for? Was that something you were looking for? There’s a lot of serendipity as an actor, you know, when you get those special scripts. -And I think this is a very special script for me.
-Yup. The context, the cultural blending, the story driven… You know, when I was auditioning for acting school, I was like, right, I’m gonna play some villains in my life. -You know, that was actually my first…
-Really? Yeah. This character, Steven, he’s kind of the villain of the story a little bit, you know. There’s a lot of, like, greed for the gold. He’s blinded by the gold at the end of the journey, you know, so it’s very like… And there’s a lot of hate driven in his character. For me, it was just like a very meaty role. And the whole shoot is very… It was a very intimate shoot, but people were coming from all around the place, all around the world. Our focus. He just finished “Mission Impossible.” Wow. And he was like, yeah, I just have this couple of weeks here. We’re just gonna shoot this film, you know. So we had a very professional team. Right. And it was a very passionate movie, passionate filmmaking, which is, you know, it’s just very special when you meet a project like this. Yeah, well, I mean, honestly, I don’t want to mislead the audience. When I saw the film, I wouldn’t call you the villain. But you’re definitely the darker one. A darker character. Yeah. Which really gave the story a lot of depth. That’s where the energy is really coming off. It is quite different from, you know, all the die-hard fans of this good-looking dude. You’re going to see a very different side of him in this movie, which I love, because that’s what we want to see in an actor. All right. And then we have a young upcoming talent here. -Elliot.
-I’m good. This is the first time you’re working with, like these amazing stars. I mean, were you nervous when you stepped onto the set with Rhydian? I was very nervous. But my brothers and the director are very kind, and they make me feel more comfortable. And I feel accepted immediately. Okay, so we have 2 locals, and you guys are coming along. Did you make them feel at home? Was it just hard work? Or did you show them around at all? Because, you know, it’s hard making a film. And then you guys did it in the heat of Taiwan summer, right? And I’ve noticed that the car that you guys did drive around did not look like it had a functioning AC of any sort. No. So what was that like for you from coming from Switzerland? That was tough. -Was it?
-Yeah, it was tough for me. I had no expectation of the country because it was the first time I came here. Okay. And when I arrived, I think we met, like the first… like the 2nd day I was here. -And we rehearsed together before shooting.
-Yeah. And I felt like a connection really quickly, like a trust between us, the 3 of us. So it was kind of easy. I mean, even with the heat and everything. But it was easy because they were really kind and really welcoming. Okay, so it’s… The people were warm and the air was hot. Yeah, exactly. So those of you who haven’t been to Taiwan, yeah, the air is quite passionate. You come here, you’ll feel the warmth anywhere you go. We call it… sometimes, the summer heat in Taiwan comes in chunks. It is solid hot. And then you guys had to do a lot of filming in that car. Yeah, because of the sound. You know, the sound guy was very… He was very persistent on, like, you know, windows shut. Oh, boy. -And ventilation off.
-No air conditioner. AC off. Yeah, ventilation off. Ventilation off. Yeah. And we have half of the crew in the van. You know, most of the time, each shoot could have been, 2, 3 minutes sometimes. -So it’s like breathing each other’s…
-My Godness. You know, we got to really bond that way, I suppose, as well, and… Man, I hate to imagine what it smelled like in there. But is that a part of what you’re trying to express? Because something that struck me. We can hear every single nick and crack and squeak from that car. It almost felt like the silence was a part of the storytelling. Yeah. As an audience, I felt that. Was that something that was planned? Yeah, the van is the main set. And the unspoken is very important in the movie. Maybe it’s my picture of dialogue between men. Unspoken. And that’s what I wanted to show. Also, because even they all speak English, they still speak different languages. So somewhere they have to understand each other without talking. It was hard to play because at the same time, I don’t want the audience to be bored. Right. So it was very important to have the balance to make sure that they still wanted to know what are they trying to tell us with that unspoken scene. Were there any really memorable parts of shooting this for any of you that was different from past experiences? I think for me was we had a typhoon. Oh. Yeah, not on the scene, just next to the location. Okay. As she said, she comes from a documentary. So we changed the scene today. Like, okay, you’re gonna bike into the rain. And I remember I was in the village biking under the rain, like, saying hi to people hiding from the rain. And it was really funny. -So much fun.
-So that’s something -that’s different from where you come from.
-Yeah. -Typhoon in Taiwan is quite a scene.
-We don’t have that, no. I’m used to go under the snow. Not a typhoon. And, you know, 40 degrees outside, right? -No.
-Exactly. Hot wind blowing in your face. All right, so now we’re going to… I want to know how well you know each other from the days that you’ve spent on the road in that van together. So we have a segment in our show we like to call Point Them Out. Not just in character, but now that knowing each other, if you were really to go on a road trip, who would be the one that’s yapping and talking all the time, out of the 3 of you? Who do you think that would be? Right, 3, 2, 1. -Well…
-No, guys. Wait. -No.
-What? -Why’s everyone pointing at you?
-Obviously, I don’t know. I was pointing at you, okay. All right, so what’s going on? Is Pierre the outgoing one? -Yeah.
-Is he the…? Oh, you mean… I thought of the character. Yeah. Yeah, right? -Oh of course.
-Okay, of course. Yeah, you can point me, then. Okay, we’re meeting for the first time. -Yeah.
-So I don’t know that much about you, but I could totally see you, you know, being the active and the cheery one. You haven’t heard me when I speak to friends. -Oh, really?
-Yeah. All right, so today you’re actually being quiet. -Yeah, very quiet.
-Exactly. Okay, all right. If you had a choice, who would you pick as your ideal road trip buddy? -3, 2, 1.
-Wait. Point. Oh. Wait a minute. Oh, this is kind of sweet. So everybody think somebody else’s ideal buddy. I mean, Rhydian. Would you seriously go on a road trip with… Yeah, exactly. Show them around Taiwan. Elliot’ll take me out. -Oh, wait.
-Yeah. So he knows all the spots? Yeah, I think he knows a lot of… I can take you to Penghu. Alright. So this is the pleasant travel buddy, all right. Now the next one, all right. Who would be the one that keeps asking, are we there yet? Who might that person be? You know, on a road trip. Are we there yet? When are we gonna get there? 3, 2, 1. -Yeah.
-Really? -Maria.
-Really? Yeah. Why? When do we arrive? I’m tired. No, I’m joking. She suffered like me from the heat, so sometimes she could, like, ask all the questions. When do we arrive at the hotel to have the AC? So she’s the one that’s more anxious. Do you guys agree with that? You’re very driven, Maria, I feel. Which is, I think, a great quality for a director. Always thinking about, you know, achieving the next goal. Very direct, you know, got a lot of direction. But we’re going to take time, Maria. The water is still heating up, you know. -Yes.
-You gotta like… Wait a minute, I gotta indicate. Wait a minute. All right, you gotta chill a little bit. All right, so the next one. If you were to go on a road trip, out of the 3 of you, who would be the DJ in the car? All right, 3, 2, 1. That’s a tough one. Oh. Wait a minute. We got a disagreement here. You think you are. You’re very insistent on the music you listen to? Yeah, I like music. -You like music?
-I do a lot of music. -Okay, so…
-Any style? Well, any style? Last but not least, we have one more question, alright? You can point at yourself if you want to. We all know road trips are amazing, and we love going on a road trip for the adventure and, you know, the unknown. So who in here is most likely on a road trip, you think is going to be able to strike up a conversation with a stranger and maybe even get lucky with a stranger? -In 3, 2, 1.
-Sure. Point. -Oh.
-What? Wow, this is a unanimous decision. What’s going on here? -Why?
-No, I can change. Okay, let’s go with the first one. Why Pierre? Is he the flirtatious one in the group? It’s pretty easy to come like a tourism, to start a conversation with someone, like saying, I’m sorry. I’m not from here. So kind of relate to people easily. But not about flirting ways. Not like in romantic ways. It’s like friendship, you know? I don’t know. -I feel like it’s a flirting way.
-Just a one-night stand.. I feel like it’s a flirting way. I don’t know. I don’t know what you’re talking about. -Nothing too serious.
-Yeah, I think that last part, you’re trying to curve it back just a little bit there. I see that, you know, that attempt, right? No commitment. No, yeah. But why did you change your answer to this kid, huh? No, because I feel like Elliot, you know, it’s the road trip buddy. This is why I want you to take me out because, you know, to show me around. He’s the young, he’s got the sparkling eyes. Ladies and gentlemen. Yeah, here we go. I’m really shy. You’re really shy? He’s very shy. Okay, yeah, that’s what all the flirty guys say. -Exactly.
-I’m the shy one. That’s not me. So is that how the story came about? So you had some experience in Taiwan? I mean, why would a director from Switzerland come out and make a movie in Taiwan? To make it short, I came a bit by coincidence when I was going to Hong Kong and then arrived in Taiwan. And I really fell in love with Taiwan, fall in love with the landscape, the scenery and everything. And then I started to get to know people and all the Taiwanese history. Your history is quite complex. And you know, you have such a background between Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and of course the native. I met a teacher from university with such a subject. And he told me the story that Taiwanese identity really takes time to be built. And I thought it was very interesting. But I’m not in the documentary field anymore. Okay. So I use that, but in a family context. Yeah. My main actor, during all the movies is building his own identity and is a kind of metaphor, you know. But I don’t expect the audience to understand that. What I want is the audience to feel the family drama, which is a human drama for everywhere here, you know. Yeah. It’s a universal drama that… What I hope with my movie, that’s everyone can feel their own story in it. And to feel it. -That’s wonderful.
-I don’t have a special message. That is wonderful. So you started off wanting to tell the story of Taiwan, but something clicked inside you. You wanted to do something other than a documentary. Yeah. So you made it into a family drama. -Exactly.
-to tell the story. Thank you for the resume. That is awesome. Guys, thank you for coming on the show. Congratulate you guys once again for the success of this movie. It is called “Road’s End in Taiwan.” It’s going to be in theaters very soon. Look for it. I hope you guys get a chance to go see it. Thank you for coming on our show and thank you for watching the Taipei Tonight Show. We’ll see you guys next week. Bye. It’s growth, it’s healing, it’s the feeling of breaking through your struggles. A journey of self-discovery. Plus, it’s a road movie, so it’s really a journey. I was pretty amazed by the country and by the kindness of the people. The first day, I was already welcomed by the team. It was pretty good. I was working and I was fighting at the same time.

Swiss director Maria Nicollier stumbled upon the beauty of Taiwanese landscape, which inspired her to make her first feature film “Road’s End in Taiwan,” a road trip movie starring Rhydian Vaughan, Pierre‑Antoine Dubey and Elliot Malvezzi. The film explores cross-cultural themes through family drama and depicts brotherhood beyond kinship.
Learn more about the behind-the-scene process from the director and actors themselves on The Taipei Tonight Show with Dennis Nieh.

Chapters:
00:00 Taipei Tonight Show: Road’s End in Taiwan
02:50 The inspiration behind Maria’s first narrative film
04:44 ‘Road’s End in Taiwan’ trailer
06:48 How the ocean in Taiwan inspired Maria
07:46 Pierre’s preparation for the role: swimming
08:41 A major shift in the script
09:43 Rhydian’s breakthrough
12:32 Suffering in the summer time filming
14:25 How silence tells the story
16:18 Who would yap the most during a road trip?
17:09 Who would you pick as your road trip buddy?
17:50 Who’s most likely to ask ‘Are we there yet?’ on a road trip?
18:47 Who would be the DJ in the car on a road trip?
19:19 Who’s most likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger?

#Switzerland #Taiwan #movie #陌路兄弟 #Roadtrip #family #landscape #culture #RhydianVaughan
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