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Song of Diaspora

CHI YI & LIU PEI-YI｜Feature Documentary｜History, literature｜Taiwan｜Mandarin｜81min｜2023

Synopsis

Viewed through the perspectives of seven literary figures, this documentary contemplates the tumultuous migration journey of the retreat of the Republic of China government to Taiwan in 1949—a significant turning point in the relationship between the two regions, inflicting thousands of family separations. The film is segmented into seven chapters: Displacement, Crossing the Seas, Rebirth, Trials and Tribulations, Nostalgia, Returning to Hometown, and Reflection. Organized chronologically, each chapter delves into the experience of exile and the yearning for one's homeland, employing diverse literary forms, including essays, novels, poetry, and letters. This profound exploration captures the emotional nuances of individuals uprooted from their homes, providing a poignant narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of historical shifts and personal reflections.

Director: Chi Yi

 

Holds an MA in Journalism from National Chengchi University in Taiwan. She has been a mass media practitioner and currently teaches at Ming Chuan University’s Department of Radio and Television. Chi Yi received the Outstanding Journalist Award in Taiwan in 1996. Trained as a journalist, she chose to switch to documentary making due to her realization of the difficulties in balancing reality with professional ideals in Taiwan’s cutthroat journalism industry. Her TV documentaries Re-encountering “Formosa” and Taiwan True Colors: “Tradernity” Trilogy won an Asian Television Award for Best News Program and an Emmy Awards nomination, respectively. Chi has made over ten documentaries, including A Lifetime in Chinese Literature, Island’s Art Legacy, Dive into Subduction Zone and The Heart of Earth.

Director: Liu Pei-Yi

 

Holds an MA in Cinema Studies from the University of Michigan in the United States. Her first job after returning to Taiwan was as a line producer for television programs, marking the beginning of her career behind the scenes of media production. Liu has worked on television features, news programs and short films and has made more than ten documentaries, including There is an Island, Blue Shoulders, A Lifetime in Chinese Literature, Dive into Subduction Zone and The Heart of Earth.

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Filmography

2021 The Heart of Earth

2020 Dive into Subduction Zone

2017 Island’s Art Legacy

2016 Blue Shoulders

2015 A Lifetime in Chinese Literature

2014 Reflections：50 years of Public Service of Vincent Siew

2012 Hope on the Road

2009 Be Brave

2007 Taiwan-True Colors

2007 There Is An Island

2005 Re-encountering Formosa

2003 My Parents 

2003 Love in an Epidemic

2002 When I Grow Up…

Crew

DIRECTOR: CHI YI & LIU PEI-YI

SCRIPTWRITER: CHI YI

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: SHEEN CHUEN-CHI CULTURAL & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

CAST: 蘇偉貞(writer), 陳義芝(writer), 王健壯(writer), 張曉風(writer), 桑品載(writer), 隱地(writer), 向明(poet)

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