Secret
Prof. Scarlet Leslie-Lewis
January 2021
For anyone with any connection to Taiwan, Jay Chou is no secret. The superstar singer-songwriter was classically trained in piano and cello. Although he is known as the "King of Mandopop," his music is a unique blend of classical with pop, R&B, and rap. After successfully directing and producing some of his own music videos, Chou decided to venture into the world of film. Secret, released in 2007, was Chou's debut as a director of a film. He also co-wrote and starred in the movie as the male lead. Later on, Chou made his Hollywood debut as Kato in The Green Hornet (2011). He has also dabbled in magic and landed a role in Now You See Me 2 (2016).
Secret begins with Xianglun (Jay) getting a tour of Tamkang High School, where he has transferred for his final year of high school. Jay is a piano prodigy. He lives with his father, who is also a teacher at the school. The female student giving Jay the tour, Qingyi (Sky), points out the piano building that is slated to be torn down after graduation. One day, Jay hears a beautiful song coming from the old piano being played by a female piano student named Xiaoyu (Rain). When Jay asks Rain about the song, she tells him it is a "secret that cannot be told" (the Chinese title of the film).
In essence, Secret is a love story. The typical high school life is depicted in the movie, including performing morning stretches, attending classes, watching a rugby match, and being part of a love triangle. Some of the supporting characters felt underdeveloped, but that is understandable as the main focus is on the relationship between Jay and Rain. The film escalates quickly after the secret is finally revealed.
Jay Chou made sure to pay tribute to his favorite composer in the movie. Chopin is mentioned in class and the piano room has paintings of Chopin and his lover on the wall. One of my favorite scenes is the piano battle between Jay and the "Prince of the Piano," in which they play Chopin pieces.
In addition to winning Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year in 2007, Secret also won Best Visual Effects. The piano piece at the heart of the movie – "Secret" – was the Best Original Song. In 2016, Secret was adapted as a musical. The soundtrack consists of all the beloved songs by Jay Chou.
Secret is currently available on Netflix. It is in Mandarin, so you may need to turn on subtitles, but the dialogue isn't too complicated. If you appreciate music, especially piano music, and enjoy a love story with a bit of mystery, add Secret to your watch list.
For anyone with any connection to Taiwan, Jay Chou is no secret. The superstar singer-songwriter was classically trained in piano and cello. Although he is known as the "King of Mandopop," his music is a unique blend of classical with pop, R&B, and rap. After successfully directing and producing some of his own music videos, Chou decided to venture into the world of film. Secret, released in 2007, was Chou's debut as a director of a film. He also co-wrote and starred in the movie as the male lead. Later on, Chou made his Hollywood debut as Kato in The Green Hornet (2011). He has also dabbled in magic and landed a role in Now You See Me 2 (2016).
Secret begins with Xianglun (Jay) getting a tour of Tamkang High School, where he has transferred for his final year of high school. Jay is a piano prodigy. He lives with his father, who is also a teacher at the school. The female student giving Jay the tour, Qingyi (Sky), points out the piano building that is slated to be torn down after graduation. One day, Jay hears a beautiful song coming from the old piano being played by a female piano student named Xiaoyu (Rain). When Jay asks Rain about the song, she tells him it is a "secret that cannot be told" (the Chinese title of the film).
In essence, Secret is a love story. The typical high school life is depicted in the movie, including performing morning stretches, attending classes, watching a rugby match, and being part of a love triangle. Some of the supporting characters felt underdeveloped, but that is understandable as the main focus is on the relationship between Jay and Rain. The film escalates quickly after the secret is finally revealed.
Jay Chou made sure to pay tribute to his favorite composer in the movie. Chopin is mentioned in class and the piano room has paintings of Chopin and his lover on the wall. One of my favorite scenes is the piano battle between Jay and the "Prince of the Piano," in which they play Chopin pieces.
In addition to winning Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year in 2007, Secret also won Best Visual Effects. The piano piece at the heart of the movie – "Secret" – was the Best Original Song. In 2016, Secret was adapted as a musical. The soundtrack consists of all the beloved songs by Jay Chou.
Secret is currently available on Netflix. It is in Mandarin, so you may need to turn on subtitles, but the dialogue isn't too complicated. If you appreciate music, especially piano music, and enjoy a love story with a bit of mystery, add Secret to your watch list.