In my senior year, I filmed myself and my friends as we went through the college entrance exam under pressure. As a university student, I still grapple with anxiety. Then one day, I got a call from my high school friend saying she was not doing well. I decided to write a letter to her.
Roses. Film-Cabaret
This is a film-concert of the Dakh Daughters musical and theatrical band, a modern political cabaret in which the art becomes a way of understanding the events of the revolution and the war in Ukraine. The film was created with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Homage to Chen Da
Chen Da, born in 1905, learned traditional Taitung-style songs as a boy. Working as a cowherd and fisherman, he travelled from Hengchun to Taitung. He began his career as a wandering minstrel at 20. Homage to Chen Da portrays his life and singing in various settings, including his hometown and the well-known musical venue in Taipei, Scarecrow Restaurant.
Position Among the Stars
Over twelve years, Leonard Retel Helmrich chronicles an Indonesian family in Jakarta's slums, revealing societal issues like corruption, religious conflicts, and economic disparity. His revolutionary camera work in this film continues the themes of his previous documentaries, and while connected, each film stands strong on its own, requiring no prior viewing to enjoy.
The Boat-Burning Festival
The film captures the 1979 ritual of Burning the Wang Ye Boat in Sucuo Village, Tainan County. Wang Ye, believed to ward off diseases and evil spirits, is celebrated through building, parading, and burning a wooden boat. Without interviews or dialogue, the visual narrative invokes spirituality and imagination through depictions of people, fire, and the god.
What Should We Have Done?
A 24-year-old medical student, showing signs of schizophrenia, goes untreated due to family denial. Her brother, eight years younger, questions but remains silent. Years later, he records family interactions, revealing his sister's deteriorating condition. Finally, after 25 years, treatment begins. Despite progress, she succumbs to lung cancer in 2021, leaving unanswered questions for her family.
From Island to Island
DB_DataObject Error: DB Error: connect failed
TIDF Selection
A handpicked selection of acclaimed titles from the 2024 TIDF to take you once again on journeys to the most unexpected corners in the world.