BIG: there is no conceivable way that WEI Te-sheng’s film would not be heartbreaking to an extreme degree. After all, it deals with the patients of a pediatric oncology ward, particularly six children being treated who share the same communal room, as well as their families and some of the hospital staff. Wei, however, has a very light touch and is very efficient in tugging emotional chords at the right moments. The film makes good use of animation to portray the children’s struggle against the disease playfully and excitingly, and the use of music (the composer of the original score is Ricky Ho) is very effective. All the young performers are quite good, but CHENG Fei-fei, as the spirited and optimistic daughter of a single mom, is spectacular. The adults are also solid, in particular, Chang Hsin-yan as her mother, and Umin Boya as the severe and caring doctor. Cinematographer YIP Siu-ching gives the film a solar, bright look, a visual cue of the hopefulness in the story.