Classmates Minus set to premier globally on Netflix

TAIPEI: Netflix has announced that it will exclusively stream Chinese-language black comedy Classmates Minus starting on Feb 20.

Directed by Huang HsinYao and produced jointly by Chung Mong-hong and Yeh Jufeng, Classmates Minus stars Cheng Jen-shuo, Liu Kuan-ting, Nadow Lin, and Shih Mingshuai; winning the Audience Choice Award, along with Best Supporting Actor and Best Art Direction at the 57th Golden Horse Awards.

Director Huang Hsin-Yao continued his directing style in The Great Buddha+ and narrated his own film once again. Along with Huang’s fly-on-the-wall narration, the four protagonists express their views on the meaning of life through candid conversations.

As Huang mentioned, “when directing Classmates Minus, I thought about the people and phenomena that I’ve observed in Taiwan over the years. The characters are ordinary people. There is nothing out of the ordinary about their conversations. I make films not to put words into people’s mouths, but to portray the troubles faced by middle-aged people.”

Executive producers Yeh Jufeng and Chung Mong-hong added, “This film is the epitome of what people in all corners of the world may experience in their day-to-day lives. We aim to explore social and economic problems and even the issue of midlife crises through the perspective of Taiwan.”

Classmates Minus depicts the lives of ordinary people in society and, with a comedic stroke, paints a picture of the grim reality that they face. The plot unfolds with four high school friends catching up with each other at a bubble tea shop.

The men are now in their forties, but they still grapple with challenges in life. One devotes his life to work with next to no appreciation, and one discovers that his goddesslike high school crush has since become a prostitute. One who had always dreamed of becoming a film director somehow ended up running for legislator.

The four protagonists have all gone to great lengths to pursue a better life, yet they have received little return. This sentiment echoes the many ups and downs that ordinary folk in Taiwan experience every day.

Director Huang’s first feature film, The Great Buddha+ (2017), won five major awards at the Golden Horse Awards, including the Award for Best Director. Classmates Minus is Huang’s second feature film and is produced by seasoned local producer Yeh Ju-feng (My Missing Valentine and Our Times).

Chung, who enjoyed a sweeping success at the Golden Horse Awards with A Sun, also served as photography director of Classmates Minus.

Netflix’s Chinese-language film Classmates Minus will be available in more than 190 countries starting on Feb 20.