Seven Days in Heaven

Adapted from Essay Liu’s tearjerking autobiographical essay that won Taiwan’s top literary award, Seven Days in Heaven is a sentimental and insightful comedy about the formalities of death. Mei’s father just passed away. She and relatives domestic and abroad set off for their home village to attend the 7-day mourning ritual hosted by a Daoist priest. Together the modernized international urbanites experience reverse-cultural shock with rural traditions that are as fascinating as exhausting. They burn spirit money overnight near the coffin, baw on cues, and kowtow to figures behind incense sticks. The rare reunion lets the new generation exchange reflection on their interaction with the old man and piece together a fuller image that couldn’t be seen from each individual’s perspective. After the funeral, each family member moves on to life elsewhere with a deepened connection to their root. Mei finally gets to cope with the loss in her very own way.