Queer immigrant filmmakers take on coming out and family in short film

Queer immigrant filmmakers take on coming out and family in short film

2023-06-21

Taiwan is the first and currently the only country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. As such, it’s a beacon for LGBT rights across the continent. But for queer immigrants in Taiwan, living as a minority within a minority can be difficult. Today we meet second-generation immigrant filmmakers, who have taken on the theme of "coming out" in a new short movie. Their film "Actually, I Know Everything," directed by Chen Zixuan, focuses on the huge differences in attitudes that can exist in families in Taiwan, and makes a plea for mutual understanding.

This short film, directed by Chen Tzu-hsuan, explores the dilemma of coming out as queer to one’s family.

Chen Chen zixuan
Filmmaker
It came from me seeing an article online where someone shared the story of coming out to her mom. The ending was very touching and I wanted to turn it into a film. And then in the middle we really added some perspectives from the mothers of the two families, to create a feeling of conflict.

It’s no simple thing to separate family ties from romance. In “Actually, I Know Everything,” characters become more accepting as they come to understand each other’s perspectives.

Hsia Yi-yun
Hsing Wu University teacher
It renewed and re-inspired my thinking. I can understand them better now, and empathize. And it has helped me understand how to be with them. This film brought me a lot of learning.

The plot of the film is a microcosm of the filmmakers’ own experiences. The director is second-generation Indonesian-Taiwanese, while crew member Lee Chih-hao is a second-generation immigrant with a mother from China. And the two families have diametrically opposed views on LGBT issues.

Lee Chih-hao
Filmmaker
With the characters of the two mothers, and their different personalities, we wanted to represent different views on homosexuality among the general public.

The intersection of queerness with immigration in Taiwan is one we don’t often see onscreen. This film makes a heartfelt case to replace prejudice with mutual empathy and respect, creating a society where we celebrate love in all its colors.

This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

新住民二代聯手拍微電影呼籲平權

2023-06-21

台灣成為亞洲第一個開放同性婚姻國，二位分別來自印尼、與中國的新住民二代的大學生，拍攝微電影《其實我都知道》，為了心目中最理想的幸福，他們用自己的方式呼籲平權。

由陳姿璇導演的這部微電影，探討同性戀議題，包括向家人出櫃的兩難。

[[印尼新二代陳姿璇]]
“其實是因為在網路上看到一篇文章，然後有人在分享說，就是她跟媽媽出櫃的這件事情。它的結尾很感動，想要把它翻拍成電影，然後裡面會真的增加一些，就是雙方媽媽的意見，就是會有一個衝突感。”

親情與愛情不能簡單的一分為二，換位思考或許能擁抱更多。

[[醒吾科大老師夏怡芸]]
“我的觀念也被重新啟動、啟發，然後我更能夠理解他們，更能夠了解他們，也讓我更懂得和他們相處，這部片帶給我很大的學習。”

劇中的情節彷彿就是劇組同學現實生活的縮影，來自印尼的新住民二代姿璇，與同為新住民二代，媽媽來自中國的智豪，看待同性議題，兩家態度就是截然不同。

[[中國新二代李智豪]]
“我們想藉由電影中的兩位媽媽，他們分別以不同的個性，來代表社會大眾對於同性戀不同的看法。”

以尊重換得理解，多以同理心取代對立，每一種愛都是值得被祝福的。

以上內容由《我們一家人》節目提供內政部移民署監製

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President Tsai Ing-wen was guest of honor at the joint graduation ceremony of Taiwan’s six military academies. This was the first cadet graduation that she has attended in person following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In the past three years, because of the pandemic, I could only send my wishes to you via a pre-recorded video. I am happy to be here in person today, to express my best wishes to our graduating cadets at the armed forces’ six military academies. Every rank insignia represents the start of a military officer’s honorable quest: the great responsibility of protecting our country and our people.

President Tsai presented rank insignia to representatives of the six academies, which symbolizes the responsibility these graduates now shoulder. The president also highlighted several military reform efforts under her administration.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Starting next year we will raise the salaries of military personnel by 4%. The government will also continue to improve lodging units and facilities, to make sure that we’re giving you more support and assistance.

There were over 2,000 graduates at the ceremony from the Army, Air Force and Navy, and the military medical school. There were also 12 exchange cadets from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
To international friends, I hope that once you return to your home countries, not only will you apply what you’ve learned here, but that you’ll also pass on Taiwan’s hospitality and friendliness, so that our ties as diplomatic allies can be strengthened further.

ROC Military Academy exchange cadet
I hope that our relationship between the two countries can keep growing and be stronger than before.

The exchange cadet from Eswatini said life at the military academy had been very fulfilling. She also expressed her reasons for joining the military.

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To protect my country, my king, my family and my friends.

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Facing an increasingly fraught state of affairs across the Taiwan Strait, I will apply what I’ve learned at the academy, have the courage to face challenges, make choices and changes, and shoulder the duty of safeguarding our territorial waters.

Tsai Ing-wen
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We will also stand by all of you, and together, safeguard our sovereignty and uphold the values of freedom and democracy.

As commander-in-chief, the president was steadfast in her resolve to protect the homeland.

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Tourism Bureau aims to bring in 6 million international visitors by end of 2023

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Keelung is expected to become a "super aged" city this year. Local community leaders are developing events to help older adults maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. And in this special week of Dragon Boat Festival, they have some clever ideas for age-friendly festivity. The classic zongzi is a bit of a heavy meal, even for the most robust stomach. So a cooking teacher has suggested a lighter alternative you can make at home that’s still tasty.

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These matcha flavored steamed zongzi buns are a hit.

It’s Dragon Boat Festival, but for many older people, the sticky rice of zongzi is a bit of a digestive hazard. That’s why Keelung Fishermen’s Association asked this cooking teacher to show local older adults this healthy alternative recipe.

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They’re for older people. We fear that sticky rice could hurt the stomach. So we’ve switched it for bread. Inside there are eggs too. It should be easier to make like this than sticky rice.

Keelung City councilor Tung Tzu-wei is no zongzi expert, but he came down to try the class. Keelung is forecast to become a “super-aged society” this year. Supporting older people to maintain good health is a top priority for local government.

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These are great for older people. They’re good for digestion and you can get that Dragon Boat Festival feeling. It won’t feel like a kind of lifestyle discrimination.

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This year’s theme is "Nature, a Gift - Connection, Giving, and Exchange.” The festival will invite submissions not just from local artists but those from the international community too. Submissions will be accepted until June 30. Three artists will be selected to spend around four weeks as artists-in-residence in Guandu Nature Park, using only natural or environmentally friendly materials to create artwork. The works will not be limited to one medium, but they must bring to light the values of biodiversity and connections between humans, ecology, and bird interactions around Guandu.

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The form of the works is not limited to one medium. The only requirment is to convey the awareness of habitat creation and biodiversity, the surrounding ecology of the Guandu area, and ecological conservation. The entry period is from now until Friday, June 30. Artists at home and abroad are welcome to participate. During the creation period, there are partial subsidies for accommodation, meals and transportation. For more details, please visit the Guanda Naturer Park website.

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