Chinese Documentary Festival 2008

Finalist - Short Film

Lake-Cleaning People

Director: Huang Mei-Wen

Taiwan / 2007 / Col / Betacam / 45Mins
In Hakka & Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles

Synopsis

For recalling the purity of heart and accomplishing the dream of vivid creek familiar in childhood, a group of volunteers in Ermei Township, Hsinchu County established an organization named “Love for Ermei Township”. All members of this organization commit to live as simple as possible day by day to practice the concept of life environmentalism. They also try to influence other habitants to love their homeland via their sincere actions.

Documentary Film ”Lake- Cleaning people” is based on stories of those homeland lovers of “Love for Ermei Township”, tea farmer Huang Sen-Chang, principal of elementary school Chang Liang-Ban, photographer Yeah Tsai, pottery artist Chen Yung-Kuo and so on. Viewpoints reflected from their oral history and living experiences aim to stimulate viewers to rethink the impact of fast economic development upon environmental damage.

Background

In recent years, the issue of environmental protection seems to be getting attractive to people’s concern around the world. Many powerful people devote their contributions vigorously; articles and reports concerning environmental protection in newspaper and magazine are getting popular nowadays. It has not only been becoming a powerful strength against the aggressiveness of developing economics in human’s modern history, but also reminds human beings reconsidering the balance between economic development and environmental protection.

In Taiwan, the government has been focusing on policy of developing economics rather than environmental protection for a long time, and it would not be surprised to see events of environmental pollution happened in these years. Environment pollution did not only destroy the beauty of this island, but also deeply threat the health of habitants in Taiwan.

Director’s note

Instead of adding personal viewpoint, the creator tries to embrace temperance attitude to reveal the truth by creating “Lake-Cleaning people”. Creator focuses more on cultural characterization than on the social issue criticism to guide viewers to find out the profile of question depicted in this film. But what is the answer? There must be something in every viewer’s mind.

The Daybreak

Director: Lu Teng-Kuei

Taiwan / 2006 / Col / DV / 53Mins
In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles

Synopsis

“The Daybreak” records the story of Mr. Ke, lectururer in Japanese at the Institute for the Blind of Taiwan, and the stories about other institute members. Mr. Ke started learning Japanese after becoming blind. With mental persistence and strong will, Mr. Ke got both a first and an MBA degree. What’s more, he is ready to take up the challenge of being a blind person teaching the sighted Japanese, which is what we called a “Mission Impossible.” Furthermore, Mr. Ke is the first user of a guide dog in Taiwan. He is a support for the visual-disadvantaged people in Taiwan, and silently fights for their opportunities and rights. Thus, Mr. Ke has encountered many more complete misunderstandings than others.

Mr. Zhang had been terribly depressed. However, he realized that giving massages is also a way to be a manager. Therefore, he tried hard to live his life as an institute member for a whole year. Mr. Zhong lost his eyesight in the prime time of his life. His wife’s misunderstanding and the pressure of raising children made him frustrated. Through religion, Mr. Zhong walked out the shadows.

Background

The blind who lose the sight in middle age also lose the ability to earn a living, which they used to have. This film followed several such visually-disadvantaged people and tried to find out how they create a whole new life in different ways.

The film also pointed out misunderstandings the visual-disadvantaged people face in our society.

Director’s note

Audiences often see what the film shows on surface. In fact, the serious topic that needs to be considered deeply is often hidden. People who think more and take action get more. As a documentary filmmaker, I think their most important function is to arouse people to think in depth.

Life With Happiness

Director: Lin Wan-Yu/Hsu Ya-ting

Taiwan / 2006 / Col / DV / 29Mins
In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles

Synopsis

Lo-Sheng Sanatorium is Taiwan’s only isolated hospital for leprosy patients. In the past, the government forced 1,000 patients into isolation. This lasted through the colonial government, the National government, and the reformed democratic government. For more than 50 years, the patients have made Lo-Sheng their home.

In 2002, with the construction of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transition), the government once again forced patients to move out of Lo-Sheng, tearing it down for economic benefits.

In the face of authority, “You government officials violate the rights of the people. Can you afford it?” is resonant in Huang Wen-Zhang’s songs. Huang Jin-Ying continues to look after the elderly, whose eyes and ears are failing with age, while making a living to feed the cats and dogs. “Lets’ support each other, take care of each other, and strive on!” These are the words of encouragement that these patients have to carry them onwards.

Background

Lo-Sheng sanatorium was built in 1929 during the Japanese colonial period and served as an isolation hospital for leprosy patients at that time. The Japanese government forced leprosy patients to live in this hospital. With a force of sanitary police and medical officers, investigation, quarantine, and imprisonment of lepers was conducted thoroughly in the period from 1934 till the end of colonial governance of Japan. As a result, Lo-Sheng Sanatorium became the institution of compulsory quarantine as well as life-long imprisonment for thousands of leprosy patients. The successive KMT regime inherited the policy in its early years.

In 1994, the Department of Taipei Rapid Transit System planned to build a depot in the site where Lo-Sheng Sanatorium is. The against voice for the wrong policy came out in the same year.

Director’s Note

Ya-ting:
The issue of Lo-Sheng Sanatorium has been political used by parties and politician for the vote in Taiwan. However, the issue is not that complicated. It is really simple. It is only about a group of lepers devoting themselves to preserving the historic site for Taiwan, history and also their hometown.

Producing documentaries makes me feel "humanity'. Because of this, I feel alive and fulfilled while shooting.

Wan-Yu:
Lo-Sheng Sanatorium is still under the threat of being demolished, while the residents and the assistants still are fighting to save it.

I hope that more people will be willing to understand this issue after seeing this documentary. And that more people will help.

Youth Cemetery

Director: Zhang Ke

China / 2005 / Col / DV / 23Mins
In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles

Synopsis

An unusual and mysterious cemetery lies in ShaPing Park in Chongqing. In 1967, a turbulent storm called “The Great Cultural Revolution” attacked China. Chongqing, a city in the southwest, was inevitably involved in the upheaval, and so it blew foulness and rained blood. The resident’s constitutional hot temper, as well as massive military factories, contributed to the even fiercer violence in Chongqing compared with any other places in China. Various riot organizations such as “8.15” and “Rebelling Thoroughly” struggle acrimoniously for the leadership, countless young people were tempted to fight against each. Hundreds of thousands of people took up arms, m bars, guns, grenades even cannons, tanks and armed vehicles. Thousands of people died in the struggle eventually. What the violence left in Chongqing was nothing but this cemetery and endless misery.

The cemetery, built by the rebel organization “8.15”, for part of the dead in Wu Men during 1967-1968, is in memory of such great martyrs. There are more than 100 tombs with about 400 people buried, most of which are multiple-burial sites. Hence, this documentary records the youth-buried and people who come and go there.

Background

My interest has always been in topics closely related the history and politics. I learned about this story originally from a report in "South Weekend", when I was a freshman. And since then I have been continually pondering about it backwards and forwards. I didn’t begin the shooting until all was prepared. At that time, I cut a 10-minute version after shooting for a month. The second shooting started on Ching Ming Festival the following year, and I continually shot and edited for nearly a year. This 22-minute version film was finished based on 200 minutes shot and six edits.

The biggest modification in the editing eas to change the interviews with children, which was were at the beginning of the film originally.

However, my tutor Professor Huang Lin proposed it would be more profound if I put this section at the end. Thanks to my teacher, I was enlightened about the film. as it used to be indistinct, and now was like an argument reflecting painful national history , not only a text expressing my concern and sadness.

After the modification, I watched Made in Hong Kong Chen Guo meanwhile, immediately feeling that his ending was a good reference to me. Fortunately, The World Is Yours exists now.

Director’s Note

What I want to have remembered is this cemetery where the young are buried and the people coming and going there. I do not attempt to reveal the history of that period intentionally. I just prefer to listen to them calmly in this cemetery with their own memories. Neither do I attempt to track or shoot the families of the victims, as I am afraid of arousing even a little bit more pain. So I just stayed in this cemetery, watching some come as well as some go, watching the different expressions on their faces, and listening to the various words when they passed by the graves. I just want to give a message via the film which took me six months to record: even now, there is such a historical wound in the city where we live, and the wound is still bleeding and painful.

Finally, I would like to express my great gratitude to all of the people I recorded, and hope the dead rest in peace in this cemetery and forgive my disturbance.

An Exposure of Affected Hospital

Director: Chu Hsien-jer

Taiwan / 2007 / Col / Betacam / 59Mins
In Mandarin with Chinese or English subtitles

Synopsis

In April, 2003, there was a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak at Heping Hospital in Taiwan. According to a government report, there were over 600 affected people and 71 dead. On April 24, the Taiwan government decided to isolate Heping Hospital, and asked all staff to return. This policy cause a strong resistance by a. Dr. Chou, who disobeyed this order, and he claimed it was wrong to isolate over 900 people, suspected cases of SARS, in one place. Dr. Chou was called “the runaway doctor” by the mass media and dismissed by the government. Following his Dr, Chou lawsuit against the government, an inconvenient truth about this hospital was discovered.

Director’s note

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak at Heping Hospital was one of the most important incidents in Taiwan in the last decade. Like during other frightening incidents in Taiwan, most of us keep silence in the face of history, but, has the incident ended? Will such pain go away? Do we have the ability to cope with SARS in the future?

Hla Huy (In The Mountains)

Director: Huang Yu-fang/Lien Chih-kai

Taiwan / 2005 / Col / DV / 27Mins
In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles

Synopsis

Hla Huy, "in the mountains" in Atayanl, is a glimpse of the life of Xiaolong,; aboriginal and an orphan with a criminal record. After getting involved with gangs and stints in prison, Xiaolong returns to the mountains he left after his parents died. Xiaolong's Han girlfriend, Xiao-yu, argues with him, telling him to get a steady job. Due to his tattoo, getting a job is difficult; he wishes to be able to hunt, as is traditional, but "reality" doesn't allow him to stay in the mountains.

Background

Atayal villagers have been hunting and farming for generations. However more people are leaving the mountains to get education and jobs. More convenience greatly changes their traditions. Policy limits how they exploit their homeland. There are few working opportunities, but life down the mountain isn’t easy either.. Should young people go to the cities or stay home?

A young aborigine, living so close to the metropolis, Xiaolong just drifts. Our romantic imagination about the aborigines’ life in the mountains crashed to pieces after we looked into tribal life. This is a story about Xiaolong, and an epitaph for an aboriginal tribe.