To Be Ordinary

To Be Ordinary
Promotional poster
Chinese有用的人
LiterallyUseful person
Directed byLee Yun-chan
Screenplay by
  • Lee Yun Chan
  • Wang Ginger
Produced by
  • Lin inch
  • Chang Alvin
Starring
CinematographyLee Ming
Edited bySu Ling Tu
Music byCicada
Production
company
  • Goer Film Co. Ltd
Distributed byMandarin Vision Co. Ltd
Release dates
  • October 11, 2026 (2026-10-11) (BIFF)
  • October 30, 2026 (2026-10-30) (Japan)
Running time
112 minutes
Country
  • Taiwan
LanguageMandarin

To Be Ordinary (Chinese: 有用的人) is a 2026 Taiwanese coming-of-age drama film co-written and directed by Lee Yun-chan. Starring Weber Yang and Winnie Chang, it follows an urban family, which is destabilised when an unexpected accident breaks their balance.

The film had its world premiere and competed in the Competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 11, 2026 for 'Busan Awards', where it won Best Director award for Lee Yun-chan.

Synopsis

Yu Jie, a 22-year-old college student and part-time web designer, meets a motorcycle accident while returning home from work. The accident leaves him permanently dependent on a wheelchair. The elderly driver responsible for the accident, overwhelmed by guilt, transfers ownership of his house to Yu Jie's family and provides money for his medical treatment and living expenses. These actions help ease the family's financial difficulties, but, he continues to blame himself for what happened. Yu Jie's father, who has been unemployed for several years, becomes his main caregiver, while his mother devotes herself to looking after her children. The family, which had been struggling both financially and emotionally, gradually begins to reconnect, sharing dinner together every evening in their new home. Yu Jie also develops a close relationship with his caregiver Yi-han, who also quietly develops feelings for him.

However, Yu Jie's younger sister gradually understands the painful reality behind the family's improved circumstances, which came at the cost of her brother's life being permanently changed by the accident.

Cast

Release

To Be Ordinary had its World Premiere in the Competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 11, 2026 and vied for 'Busan Awards'.

The film will be screened for Japanese Premiere on 30 October 2026 in the World Focus section of the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.

Taiwanese production and sales company Mandarin Vision acquired the International sales rights in September 2026, before the Busan International Film Festival premiere of the film.

Accolades

The film competed for various Vision Awards at Busan International Film Festival.

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Busan International Film Festival 15 October 2026 Busan Awards: Best Film To Be Ordinary Nominated
Busan Awards: Best Director Lee Yun-chan Won

Reception

The film premiered in the Competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on 11 October 2026 and won the Best Director award for Lee Yun-chan at the festival's closing ceremony on 15 October 2026. It was the only Taiwanese film in the festival's competition line-up.

References

  1. ↑ Naman Ramachandran (1 September 2026). "Isabelle Huppert, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Fan Bingbing, Michelle Yeoh on Guest List as Busan Unveils Galas, Asian Cinema Competition". Variety. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "To Be Ordinary". Busan International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Lin Ying-Hsuan (11 October 2026). "Taiwan's Sole Busan Competition Title 'To Be Ordinary' Marks Lee Yun Chan's Return to Features After Two Decades". Variety. Retrieved 11 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "To Be Ordinary". Tokyo International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Shackleton, Liz (1 September 2026). "Mandarin Vision Takes On Sales For Lee Yun Chan's Busan Competition Title 'To Be Ordinary'". Deadline. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  6. ↑ David Opie (1 September 2026). "Busan reveals 14-strong Competition including Nanako Hirose, Majid Majidi, Yosep Anggi Noen". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  7. ↑ Park Ha-na (15 October 2026). "[부산 어워드] 리윈찬, 20년 만의 감독상…"계속 영화 만들 것"" [[Busan Awards] Li Yunchan, Best Director First in 20 Years… "Will Keep Making Movies"]. News1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Taiwan's Lee Yun-chan wins Best Director at Busan film festival". Taipei Times. 16 October 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lee Yun-chan wins Best Director at Busan Int'l Film Festival". Focus Taiwan (CNA). 16 October 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  10. ↑ "Busan Competition Title 'To Be Ordinary' Marks Lee Yun Chan's Comeback". Variety. 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2026.