Secret (2007 Film) - References To Personal History

References To Personal History

Chou added elements to the movie that suggested he was paying tribute to his high school and his favorite composer Chopin.

1. 淡江中學(Tamkang (Danjiang) Middle School): 2007 marks the 10th year he left his school. In the movie, he incorporated elements which reflected his actual experience in school, such as his stint as pianist for the school choir. In the movie, he was the orchestra’s pianist and played during high school graduation.
2. Chopin:
   1. Right at the beginning of the movie, a lesson about Chopin was being taught in class. He was described as a gifted musician and composer.
   2. There were two paintings in the music room that were supposedly Chopin and his beloved (George Sand). The conversation between Xianglun & Xiaoyu was about Chopin and his lover. Xianglun lamented that the two eventually parted ways. However, Xiaoyu seemed envious that the couple was able to spend 10 years together, which for the couple, was possibly a long time.
   3. Chopin's Waltz (Op.64 No.2 C# minor) and "Black Key" Etude (Op. 10 No. 5) feature in the 鬥琴(Piano Duel) scene. Note that the melodic sequence of the "Black Key" Etude that is performed in the movie includes both the introductory black key sequence, as well as an improvisation in which the introductory theme of the etude is transposed a half step higher and is played almost entirely on the white keys.
   4. Another one of Chopin's waltzes, the L'adieu waltz, plays in the background briefly at the beginning of the movie.
   5. In the middle of the movie, just before Xiaoyu talks about the relationship between Chopin and Sand, Xianglun plays an excerpt from Chopin Nocturne No.21 in C minor.