2020 Lost & Found
"Lost and Found" is the theme focusing on inspirational dialogue with the audience through selective films. In a year as volatile as 2020, we believe many of us have taken a pause to self-reflect as our rhythms of life have been disrupted. We hope through storytelling, we can reflect on what we have cherished and lost, what we are mending and reconciling, and what treasures still await us to be discovered.
Since August, we have screened at least one movie per month until the end of the year. Each movie was usually accompanied by a post-screening forum where you can engage in dialogue with our special guests. We hope this new format would allow you to connect with this year’s theme, “Lost and Found,” and to reflect upon moments of loss and rediscovery in your life, whether surrounding your family and loved ones, your health, goals in life, or issues like equity and justice.
08
In August, we kicked off TFFB’s 2020 “Lost and Found” series on Taiwanese Father’s Day weekend, with screenings of Foolish Bride, Naive Bridegroom (三八新娘憨女婿,1967), a black-and-white film in tâi-gí (Taiwanese language) by legendary director Hsin Chi, and the short film Like Father, Like Daughter (前世情人的情人, 2019), directed by Chris Leong Siew Hong, whose short film Blind Mouth (2017) was nominated for the Golden Horse Award. The juxtaposition of the two films, both comedic in tone, draws parallels across generations in the universal pursuit of love. In addition to uncovering interesting stories during filming, our forum discussion with director Leong also delved into topics like the freedom to love, marriage equality, and communication and reconciliation among family.
09
In September, we screened Dad’s Suit (老大人, 2019), directed by Hung Po-Hao and starring Hsiao Hou Tao, King Jieh-Wen, Phoebe Huang, Yen Tsao, and Sandra Li. The film portrays an old man, Chin-Mao, as he grapples with the fear and helplessness of a body weakening with age, and the conflicted and resentful feelings in his children sparked by their shouldering his care. The film astutely depicts the conflicts between family members, and its underlying representation of familial love is universally resonant. This is also the last performance by seasoned actor Hsiao Hou Tao before his passing earlier this year.
10
In October, we were glad to introduce Run for Dream (出發, 2019), a documentary on Taiwanese ultramarathoner Tommy Chen in his endeavor across barren deserts, formidable mountains, and desolate ice fields to become Asian champion of the 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series. The passage towards achieving our dreams is challenging, and in Chen’s path of running, he has faced unfathomable loneliness. On this journey we face many obstacles, we feel dejected and lost, and even start to question ourselves. Yet on this journey, we can examine ourselves again and again, ask ourselves and listen to our inner voice, and find a way to continue.
we presented three short films, After Crossing (翻越之後, 2017), Moving in Between (游移之身, 2019), 1/3 Millions (三百萬分之一, 2017), during the week of Thanksgiving!
In celebration of LGBT+ History Month and 2020 Taiwan Pride, we presented Baby steps (滿月酒, 2015) for November. The film portrays a gay Taiwanese–American man grappling with traditional Asian family values and with the tribulations of having children as a gay couple. Faced with the demands of his mother to have a child and start a family, he embarks on a journey with his boyfriend to try for a child by surrogacy. We hope this film not only raises issues of equality, empathy, and acceptance, but also sheds light on the inadequacies in LGBT rights that still remain, beyond the legalization of same-sex marriage.