
Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) is a 19-minute Taiwanese drama about two older men whose ritualized closeness in a local bathhouse gives way to a final, long-suppressed confession when time runs out.
Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) is a Taiwanese drama centered on two men in their 60s and the unspoken intimacy that has developed between them. Set around an old local bathhouse, the film uses a near-death accident to bring hidden feelings to the surface.
Directed by Jyun Lai, the short film focuses on repression, ritual and the body’s ability to communicate what words have avoided. Its brief 19-minute runtime suggests a concentrated story about desire acknowledged only when there is little time left.
Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) movie details
| Title | Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) |
|---|---|
| Original title | 老男人 |
| Release date | |
| Runtime | 19m |
| Genres | Drama |
| Director | Jyun Lai |
| Writers | Wu Jing-shuang, David Lim, Jyun Lai |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Languages | Mandarin |
| Status | Released |
Story without spoilers
Ong and Khoo are two Taiwanese men whose closeness is expressed through familiar routines and an atmosphere of deliberate ambiguity in an aging neighborhood bathhouse. Their relationship has been shaped by what remains unsaid as much as by what they share.
When a near-death accident changes the balance between them, the physical body becomes the means of a final confession. The film explores how a lifetime of repressed desire can emerge at the point when time is running out, without revealing the full circumstances or outcome.

What to expect
This is a short-form drama built around emotional restraint, an intimate setting and the tension between ritual and confession. The bathhouse provides a contained social space, while the central accident introduces urgency into a relationship that has long existed in uncertainty.
The premise points toward a serious, reflective film about aging, desire and the cost of postponing difficult truths. Its 19-minute length indicates a compact narrative rather than an expansive character study, with the emotional focus placed on Ong and Khoo’s connection.
Cast and creative team
Joseph Hsia plays Ong, with King Jieh-wen as Khoo. The supporting cast includes Cheng Chih-wei as Idiot, Lu Man-yin as Aunt, Kurt Hsiao as Plop Boy and Chiang Yun-yi as Bathhouse Patron.
Jyun Lai directs and shares writing credit with Wu Jing-shuang and David Lim. Lai is also credited as a writer, making the film a collaboration between the director and the two additional writers.
- Joseph Hsia as Ong
- King Jieh-wen as Khoo
- Cheng Chih-wei as Idiot
- Lu Man-yin as Aunt
- Kurt Hsiao as Plop Boy
- Chiang Yun-yi as Bathhouse Patron
Release and production context
Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) is a 2026 drama from Taiwan, presented in Mandarin. It has a runtime of 19 minutes and is produced by InterFace Pictures. The supplied release date is October 16, 2026, and the film is listed as released.
Production companies: InterFace Pictures
Movies Dock view
With its older central characters, confined bathhouse setting and emphasis on feelings held back over many years, Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) presents a focused drama about what can remain unspoken until circumstances make silence impossible. The film’s compact length keeps its premise direct and concentrated.
Frequently asked questions
What is Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) about?
It follows two men in their 60s whose ambiguous closeness in an old local bathhouse is transformed by a near-death accident and a final confession.
Who directed Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye)?
Jyun Lai directed the film.
Who stars in the film?
Joseph Hsia plays Ong and King Jieh-wen plays Khoo. The supporting cast includes Cheng Chih-wei, Lu Man-yin, Kurt Hsiao and Chiang Yun-yi.
How long is Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye)?
The film has a runtime of 19 minutes.
What language is the film in?
Lāu Tsa-Pôo (Before We Say Goodbye) is in Mandarin.
Film data:
TMDB















