Good Neighbours (兩相好) (1962)

The Chen family, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, move next to the Ng family, who run a Western-medicine practice. While polite to each other, the two households keep each other at arm’s length. Their medical philosophies clash, their languages do not quite align, and every attempted conversation seems to slide in unexpected directions.

The Chen sons fall head over heels for the Ng daughter and the family’s child bride. Their clumsy but sincere attempts to win the girls’ hearts bring the two households into closer, and often messier, contact. Trouble peaks when Mrs Chen is mistaken to be flirting with Mr Ng.

When the confusion is finally cleared, the three young couples get their blessing, and the families end up sharing a joyous banquet together, setting aside their differences and misunderstandings.

This early work by director LEE Hsing, produced through his newly founded Independence Film Co, features debut performances by WANG Man-chiao and HSIUNG Hsueh-ni. The film blends the cultural friction from the playful misreadings due to differing language and medical traditions. With its lively timing, warm humour, and hints of the “Healthy Realism” LEE would later be known for, the film affectionately captures communities in postwar Taiwan learning to live—and laugh—together.