Water in the Balance

Though Taiwan's rainfall is three times the global average, its uneven distribution creates striking scarcity. Water gives and takes; it sustains life yet brings destruction. Following the sound of currents, the film reflects on water's shifting states, capturing the emotional and spiritual ties woven between people, memory and the surrounding tides.

Ke Chin-yuan: 'Field survey work has given me a deep respect for the rivers and reservoirs that supply the water flowing from a newly opened tap. Which mountain range, stream and watershed has guided it along its journey? While vital to life, water can be a fickle blessing and downright disastrous in both its excess and its scarcity. Experiencing firsthand the increasing swings between deadly floods and droughts over the past three decades has made me acutely aware of the "problem" of water and the challenges Taiwan now faces.

To help expand our experience and understanding of water, this film explores its textures, forms and sounds, beginning at its origins in high mountain slopes and following it downstream to river estuaries. Let your senses guide you through the truly "immersive" story of water!’