Mr. Eternal Jellyfish

Production Background and Core Themes

Production Team: The film is produced by Zhixuan Cultural Enterprises and distributed by Spring Entertainment, marking director Lin Shuqiao’s continued focus on social issues following Beyond the Coastline.

Source of Inspiration: The biological characteristics of the "lighthouse jellyfish" symbolize the spirit of teachers—despite facing setbacks, they remain committed to guiding their students' growth.

Creative Intent: The script underwent three years of field research, interviewing over 50 teachers to authentically present the challenges in education, such as teacher-student conflicts, administrative pressure, and societal value clashes.

Plot Focus: Dialogue Between Educators and the System

The film depicts the struggles of teachers navigating between ideals and reality through multiple narrative threads:

The Exhausted Rebirth of a Veteran Teacher: Fang Cen plays a middle school homeroom teacher who faces accusations from parents due to a bullying incident, prompting a rediscovery of her teaching passion amid professional burnout.

The Passionate Test of a New Teacher: Kou Jiarui portrays an enthusiastic substitute teacher attempting to innovate in a rigid system, yet facing performance evaluations and recognition crises.

The Contradictions of Teacher-Parent Collaboration: Zhou Xiaohan plays a parent representative who transitions from a critic to a supporter, reflecting societal issues of shared educational responsibility.

The climax centers on a "school consolidation crisis," where teachers and the community unite to initiate a preservation movement, using the "jellyfish ecological classroom" project as a metaphor for educators illuminating hope.

Social Significance: Reflective Mirror of Educational Challenges

The film addresses three major pain points in Taiwan's education system:

Dignity Crisis: Teachers often become scapegoats in conflicts with parents, lacking institutional support.

Burnout of Passion: Administrative burdens dilute the essence of teaching, leading to talent loss.

Urban-Rural Disparities: The consolidation of rural schools impacts the cultural dynamics of students and communities.

The closing credits cite statistics from the Ministry of Education: "In the past five years, the teacher turnover rate in Taiwan has risen by 23%," urging society to confront structural issues in education.

Release Information and Extended Initiatives

Public Benefit Screenings: The film company collaborates with the National Teachers' Association to hold special screenings for teachers in northern, central, and southern Taiwan, followed by educational forums.

Educational Advocacy: An official campaign titled "Illuminate the Educational Lighthouse" is launched to demand a reduction in teachers' administrative burdens.

Ecological Education: In partnership with the Ocean Affairs Council, a "Jellyfish Conservation Teaching Plan" will transform the film’s elements into educational materials on life education.

Mr. Eternal Jellyfish not only portrays the life slices of educators but also gently questions society's collective view on education. As the producer states, "This film is an apology letter to all teachers—we often ask you to be lighthouses but forget that lighthouses also need to be illuminated."