All things passing and coming

In a hidden corner beneath bustling Taipei, a group of elderly people living alone share an underground dwelling rarely seen by the city above. Though each once lived in isolation, they gradually forge quiet, unspoken bonds through the rhythms of everyday life.

To the outside world, however, they are often dismissed as little more than homeless people. They struggle against unexpected government inspections, an increasingly complex welfare system, estranged relationships with their children, and the relentless burden of illness.

As time passes, their community slowly disappears. Captain Ke dies suddenly, Uncle Jiang grows frail after a fall, Sergeant Chang breathes his last while climbing the stairs toward the world above. Grandma Chang is abruptly relocated after developing dementia. Residents come and go and in the end only Ms. Lai remains, carrying the memories of everyone who once lived there, quietly sweeping the floor and continuing with her daily life.

One day in the future, the underground dwelling itself may disappear beneath the city’s relentless redevelopment. Yet through cinema, the traces of these lives and the dignity that so often went unseen will find a lasting refuge, allowing their stories to endure beyond the passing of time.