Cape No. 7 (Hai Jiao Qi Hao) (2008)

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A would-be pop star may have a fresh shot at stardom in this comedy from Taiwan. Aga (Van Fan) was born and raised in the small port town of Hangchun, and moved to Taipei in hopes of making it big in music. However, Aga's adventures in the big city didn't lead to much, and he comes home sadder,… More A would-be pop star may have a fresh shot at stardom in this comedy from Taiwan. Aga (Van Fan) was born and raised in the small port town of Hangchun, and moved to Taipei in hopes of making it big in music. However, Aga's adventures in the big city didn't lead to much, and he comes home sadder, wiser and broke. Taking a job with the post office, Aga imagines his career in show business is over until word spreads that Japanese pop star Kousuke Atari will by playing a concert in Hangchun, and that a local act will be chosen to open the show. Aga's stepfather (Ma Ju-lung) thinks this is the young man's chance to show what he can do, and arranges for him to audition for the gig. Aga lands the opening slot, but now he has to put together a band who can back him up, and the local talent leaves something to be desired; Uncle Mao (Johnny C.J. Lin) is eighty years old and insists on playing a Japanese lute instead of an electric bass, keyboard player Dada (Joanne) is only ten and insists on a certain amount of spiritual material, and Frog (Ying Wei-man) on drums has to divide his time between practice and fixing motorcycles. Hai jiao qi hao (aka Cape No. 7 was a major box office success in Taiwan and was chosen as the nation's official entry for the American Academy Award's "Best Foreign Language Film" competition. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi