Synopsis

It is the first time that the four of them, the Li couple and Zhao couple visited France together. Zhao couple has a deep interest in Western culture, while Li couple is more traditional and pragmatic, making them seem out of place with the local food and scenery. The next day, they drive on the wrong side of the road, and the unhappiness between the two couples erupts in anxiety and panic. That night, an unexpected situation comes up - the hired chef is unable to arrive. In an emergency, the four of them decide to work together to organize a feast, and the real purpose behind this trip also surfaces...

Curator’s Note

Good Time is an animated comedy created by Yang Cheng Hua and Zhang Shang, a couple of travelling French artists. The film tells the story of Mr and Mrs Zhao and Mr and Mrs Li, who embark on their first trip to France in the warm and sunny days. From the moment they arrive at the homestay, all sorts of funny travelling accidents keep happening. The two middle-aged couples with very different personalities enact their own travel stories in the romantic land of France, and the conflicts that arise show the relationship between the couples and at the same time demonstrate the interesting cultural differences between China and the West. After learning that the chef's team will not be able to arrive at the required venue on time, they put aside the unhappiness of the past few days and work together to complete the preparations for an important event, which also reveals the real purpose of their trip, giving the whole film a warm undercurrent of humour and wit.（Yifan Wei）

Director’s bio

An artist couple residing in France, YANG Chenghua and ZHANG Shang work in animation, comics, games and visual design in both China and France. They founded "Papayep", an independent comic magazine with an ancillary brand in 2017. In 2021, an animation studio of the same name was established in Paris. The couple are currently working on an original animation series as well as several comic books.

Director’s Note

This film draws inspiration from real experiences and reinterprets our parents' travel stories. The characters' characterization is both realistic and not entirely realistic. The film highlights the sharp contrasts in conflicts ranging from Chinese and Western cultures to the relationship between husband and wife. The film intentionally buries the true travel purpose of the four people at the end, leaving more room for the audience’s imagination. In the end, Lao Zhao's monologue is not only a wedding speech given to the younger generation, but also a summary of the marriage relationship, echoing this foreign trip.

Festival & Awards

2023 Seoul Indie-Ani Fest, Prize for ASIA ROAD

Palm Spring Film Festival

Feinaki Animation Week

Irish Animation Awards, nominee

Casts

N/A

Credits

Art director/ character design/ layout: Pierre Zenzius

Music/composer: Pablo Pico

Sound effects: Gilles Marsalet