Long Time No Sea-Genres & Themes-國家電影及視聽文化中心 Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute

只有大海知道
Long Time No Sea

Directed : 崔永徽 Heather TSUI

Opening : 2021-11-23 00:00:00 ~ 2028-12-31 23:55:00

Year : 2018

Color : 彩色

Length : 01:36:53

Production: Taiwan

Introduction

Manawei, a Yami(Tao) boy, lives on Orchid Island with his grandmother while his father is away from home working. He hopes that his father will bring him a new pair of shoes, but his father's brief return brings only disappointment. The National Indigenous Dance Competition approaches and a young teacher from Taiwan volunteers to train the school's dance team with the hope of being transferred back home. While for Manawei, it is a chance to see his father again.

Inspired by a true story, the director reiterates the reclaiming of traditions through the children's preparation for a dance competition. The grandmother-grandson relationship that is drifting apart is brought close again as Manawei sings and dances in traditional ethnic costume. Bathed in the spirit of "our culture, our pride", the film depicts an authentic, rarely seen side of Orchid Island, and engages issues of family relationships, love, abandonment, and grandparenting problems against the backdrop of the Yami(Tao) cultural fault line. All characters except the teacher are portrayed by non-professional actors from the Yami(Tao) ethnic group .

Director's Profile

TSUI has produced and written numerous TV series. Her work is noted for the lengthy observational research of its subjects and for the collecting of true stories covering literature and Taiwanese culture. Her documentary The Life Coach (2010) has been hailed as a Taiwanese Dead Poets Society (1989). Long Time No Sea（2018） is TSUI's feature film debut.

Participation and award records

★2019 Seattle International Film Festival - Special Jury Prize
★2018 Golden Horse Awards - Best New Performer
★2018 Tokyo International Film Festival - Asian Future