A-Jia's Home Introduction
In the movie "Cape No. 7," the main character A-Ka's home is a frequently appearing setting. This is not only a place for daily living but also a space on the second floor where A-Ka practices guitar, writes lyrics, composes music, and contemplates his life's direction in between his boring mail delivery job. A-Ka's house is located in an inconspicuous alley within the Hengchun Old Town. The film's popularity has unexpectedly boosted tourist visits to the location. Standing at the entrance of A-Ka's house and examining its exterior from the street reveals that the house is not as large as one might imagine. Looking at the windows and doors of the first floor, memories from the film come rushing back, particularly the scene where Yuuzi, after attending a wedding banquet and getting drunk, makes a ruckus at A-Ka's front door, even breaking a window, before A-Ka takes her up to the second-floor room. While the glass of the doors and windows has been fully repaired, the interior decor remains largely intact. Pushing open the white window, A-Ka's living room comes into view. Although the living space is not large, it feels inviting rather than oppressive. The walls are adorned with many autographs and photos of "Cape No. 7" cast members, and on the table sits a plaster cast of a foot, labeled "Produced by Nanmen Hospital." By the window, there’s a guitar that A-Ka broke, and on a nearby coat rack hangs the uniform A-Ka wore while working at the post office. Next to that is the wooden staircase leading to the second floor. The staircase is narrow and steep, so one must be very careful while climbing. Upon reaching the door, all familiar impressions come flooding back; the arrangement of items inside is almost identical to those seen in the film. A-Ka's bed and sheets, his favorite guitar, and a notebook on the wooden table where A-Ka wrote songs with a bundle of letters addressed to Yuuzi can all be found here. Being in this location feels as if one is part of the movie itself, creating a strangely magical experience. It's worth mentioning that the owner’s daughter is in charge of the second-floor room, and she kindly and attentively guides visitors through the site. If you need help with taking pictures, you can ask her, as she is said to be an excellent photographer.
