Debapriya Bhattacharya
Helmed by Rene Liu Ruo-ying, ‘Forget You Not’ revolves around Cheng Le-le (Hsieh Ying-Hsuan), a middle-aged woman fighting against all odds and yet leading a mundane life. A stand-up comedian and part-time convenience store worker, Le-le has to take care of her aging father, Kuang-chi (Chin Han), while her marriage to well-established lawyer, Zhang Kai (Wallace Huo), slowly falls apart. At the same time, she witnesses her friends enjoying success in their professional and personal lives, leaving her feeling ever more lost and overwhelmed. Netflix’s Taiwanese drama series is a simple story highlighting modern oriental family life. It touches upon the themes of the fleeting nature of life, the complexities of human relationships, and a sense of nostalgia, which makes it grounded and relatable for the viewers.
The Fictitious Story of Forget You Not Explores Everyday Emotions
The narrative of ‘Forget You Not’ is a complete work of fiction from the mind of Rene Liu Ruo-ying, who not only serves as the writer but also made her directorial debut with the series. In an interview with Netflix, the singer and actress shared that she wanted the story to allow the audience to relate and connect emotionally. Referring to it as “a work deeply rooted in the essence of life and everyday emotions,” she added, “I believe it truly reflects the realities of our world today. I hope it will touch audiences, bringing them both laughter and tears.” In her endeavor, the multi-talented personality enjoyed the enthusiastic support of the cast and crew.
Veteran actor Chin Han, who portrays the aging father, revealed that he had previously worked with Rene as his fellow actor in ‘Don’t Cry, Nanking.’ That, in turn, helped him comfortably step into his character’s shoes and deliver a more commanding performance. When offered the role of Kuang-chi, “I agreed without even reading the script. Getting to work with such a dedicated director is always a great opportunity,” shared Chin Han. Even behind the camera, Rene stayed warm and genuine to all, treating the entire crew of around 80 people to home-cooked braised noodles.
According to Hsieh Ying-Hsuan, who plays his onscreen daughter Cheng Le-le, the strong performance by Chin Han also added to the sense of authenticity in ‘Forget You Not.’ She recalled crying while delivering her lines because of how immersive the veteran actor made the experience. “He truly has the ability to make actors believe that, in that moment on set, he is a real father,” she expressed.
Forget You Not Showcases the Struggles Faced With Aging Parents
In ‘Forget Me Not,’ Cheng Le-le grew up with her father Kuang-chi ever since her mother left them when she was 8 years old. As such, their world has always revolved around each other. In the present, the grown-up Cheng is seen stumbling to take care of an aging Kwang-chi as she faces mounting everyday difficulties. She goes to comedy clubs and speaks on stage about the unwelcoming situations her father places her in. Even on her wedding day, he fails to show up at the altar after suffering a cycling accident, and Cheng has to rush to the hospital in her wedding dress to find him joyfully interacting with the staff. These instances hit close to home for viewers, as many have to deal with similar whims of parents in their advanced age in real life.
The situation for the fictional characters further worsens as Kuang-chi is diagnosed with dementia and risks losing his independence. However, the show also highlights the strong bond shared between parents and children that helps them to overcome such inconveniences. For instance, when Kuang-chi finds Cheng outside ahead of a storm, he urges her to come home. The latter asks him whether he meant his home or hers, to which he replies without missing a beat, “Isn’t my home yours too?” The narrative of ‘Forget You Not’ thus humanizes the experiences of the main characters by making them experience the ups and downs of life as they are. This makes the story more relatable, even when it is firmly based on fiction.
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