The screenplay was sitting on the shelf for nearly two decades before Sabu’s action comedy Arrested Memory was finally made as a Taiwan-Japan co-production. It was worth the wait, securing a premiere at Venice before playing Toronto and is now leading the charge at the Golden Horse Awards with 11 nominations.
“Looking back, perhaps that’s a blessing in disguise. I was still immature back then,” says Japanese director Sabu, who first developed the screenplay during a six-month film residency in Berlin in 2007. “The story involves action sequences and car scenes. The technical demands are quite considerable, and it has a very large ensemble cast.”
The story centres on a traumatised police detective – played by Taiwanese actor Ethan Juan (The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon) – who is hiding his fast-failing memory while cracking the kidnapping case of an influential businessman’s son.
In early 2024, Sabu discussed with Shozo Ichiyama of Fourier Films the possibility of making Arrested Memory in Taiwan after attempts with Germany, South Korea, the US and Japan failed to take off.
Ichiyama recommended Justine O, who runs Taiwan-based LHB Films alongside producer Roger Huang, due to his experience withTaiwan-Japan co-productions such as 18×2 Beyond Youthful Days.
It helped that Sabu has previously shot part of 2017 Berlin competitor Mr Long and part of 2019’s Dancing Mary in Taiwan. “It was an absolutely wonderful experience. All I have are fond memories of the time we spent there,” says the director, who ended up shooting the entire production in Taiwan, mostly in Kaohsiung.
“There is something inherently nostalgic. While it has its share of modern cityscapes, just one step into a back alley can take you into a world where time seems to move a little more slowly. Taiwan’s distinctive atmosphere blended naturally with the world of the film.”
The financing structure brings together investors from Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia.
“Since the entire film was shot in Taiwan and more than 90% of our key crew were Taiwanese, it was natural that the majority of the financing came from Taiwanese investors,” says producer Justine O.
“The equity financing was primarily backed by private investors, alongside investments from Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and the Kaohsiung Film Fund. There were also production subsidies from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Taipei City Government,” she adds.
Sabu was the only Japanese crew member on set, while cinematographer Jai Ip is from Hong Kong. Japanese actors Shinichi Tsutsumi, Reika Kirishima and Daisuke Tsukahara each spent less than a week filming their scenes in Taiwan. Alongside Ethan Juan, Taiwanese actors Moon Lee and Hsieh Ying Xuan make up the main cast.
While the language on set was Chinese and interpreters were hired, Sabu said that communication was never an issue as he drew storyboards – nearly 2,000 shots – for every scene and shared with the entire production team before filming.
The post-production work took place between Taiwan and Japan, with Taiwan-based French editor Matthieu Laclau, Tokyo-based French colourist Yov Moor, Japanese composer Junichi Matsumoto, and Taiwanese father-and-son sound team Tu Duu-chih and Tu Chun-tang.
“There’s something truly wonderful about bringing together the best talents from different parts of the world and allowing them to contribute their strengths to a single film,” Sabu says.
The film has gone through 58 versions of editing mainly to get the humour right. “Justine arranged one test screening after another to gather feedback from audiences of different professions around the world,” he recalls. ”Comedy is such a local thing. How to make people all over the world cry and laugh together.”
For Justine O, communication has been key to the successful collaboration. “In an international coproduction, you can never communicate too much,” says the producer. ”Differences in language, working habits and expectations can easily lead to misunderstandings. It is important to keep talking, keep listening and keep clarifying things, even when it takes time. We end up learning so much with each other.”
Arrested Memory is now the frontrunner at the upcoming Golden Horse Awards, having received 11 nominations, including best film, best director, best actor for Juan and many technical nods such as best cinematography for Ip, best editing for Laclau and best sound effects for the Tu team.
It is scheduled to open in Taiwan in March 2027, followed by Japan in early summer.
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