The movie A Foggy Tale (大濛), which received 11 nominations for the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, including the Best Narrative Feature Award, premiered last night in Chiayi where it was filmed.
Set 70 years ago and starring Taiwanese actresses Caitlin Fang (方郁婷), Joanne Tang (湯毓綺) — better known by her stage name 9m88 — and Hong Kong actor Will Or (柯煒林), the film is spoken in mainly Hoklo (better known as Taiwanese).
Photo: CNA
The story focuses on the White Terror era, the period of political persecution that began when former president Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) declared martial law in 1949.
It follows a young girl who learns her brother has been executed and travels from Chiayi to Taipei to find her sister and claim his body, meeting a trishaw driver along the way who begins to play a brotherly role in her life.
The movie was shot across various locations in Chiayi, including Wanguo Cinema, Chiayi Old Prison and the Showa 18 site in Chiayi Park, which houses relics of the Japanese colonial period including the former purification hall and the administrative office of the Chiayi Shinto Shrine.
In one scene, Showa 18, is transformed into the fictional “Jile Funeral Home” and the old prison bathhouse is reimagined as a morgue.
It also recreates the style of 1950s song-and-dance troupes at Wanguo Cinema, with Tang performing as a showgirl.
Audience members who experienced the White Terror said last night that it brought back memories of the fear felt by Taiwanese at the time, while underscoring the peace in contemporary Taiwan.
Last night’s premiere was attended by director Chen Yu-hsun (陳玉勳), producer Yeh Ju-fen (葉如芬), Tang and Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁).
The name A Foggy Tale refers to the Hoklo word for “fogged over,” which symbolizes how many things in Taiwan 70 years ago were “obscured like a mist,” Chen said.
Chen thanked the Chiayi County Government and local organizations for their support in providing access to historical locations and helping to recreate the environment of 1950s Taiwan.
Weng thanked director Chen for helping more people discover and fall in love with Chiayi through the film.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS