The Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) spent three years to film a documentary on tung blossoms called When the Flowers Bloom. Its Taipei premiere was held at SPOT Huashan cinema on September 26. HAC Minister Yiong Cong-ziin hopes that this film will convey to viewers the beauty and nostalgic emotions of tung blossoms in mountain forests, as well as show people the culture and humanistic sensibilities of Hakka villages.
Minister Yiong said that this documentary is suitable for people of all ages. The older ones may see themselves in Kuo Ho-yen, who plants tung trees in the mountains. Young adults resemble those who gather tung seeds to sell—for them, the tung mountain forests are their means to make a living. Children, on the other hand, could be the visitors who arrive in April and May, the tung blossom season, to appreciate the flowers. As tung trees dress their crowns in blossoms, their meaning to society shifts from an economic resource to an aesthetic element that embellishes life.
When the Flowers Bloom is inspired on the spirit of satoyama, that is, the border area between mountain foothills and flat land. It documents the family of Kuo Ho-yen and the landscapes that make up their everyday surroundings, painting a picture of the waxing and waning of tung trees and the neighboring Hakka villages with their mountain forests and trees, cultural context and aesthetic refinement. When the Flowers Bloom is also one of very few documentaries themed on land in Taiwan. Roads on the filming location in Shitan, Miaoli were closed for a screening of the film on September 15, earning lots of attention and recognition from locals. Many of them exclaimed emotionally: “My hometown is so beautiful!”
Golden Horse award-winning musicians Sky Lee Yi-chong and Weng La-fa were responsible for the soundtrack. What’s more, the ending theme, Home Town—a Hakka-language song that speaks of love and yearning for one’s homeland, was performed by the National Hakka Children’s Choir. The music touchingly underscores the film’s message that one’s heart is forever tied to one’s family and hometown. The calligraphy for the film title was done by Hsiao Chun-sheng in a bold and powerful style. All these artists joined forces to accomplish this cultural documentary about mountainside Hakka villages, everyday life, love, and family.
Screening in cinemas and free film screenings are under planning and discussion at the moment, as to enable more people to appreciate the film. For more details, please see the HAC website and the When the Flowers Bloom fanpage. May more people feel the warmth and grasp the fascinating meaning behind the shots of this documentary!
