Paris Special Screening of "A Mother's Song" and Panel Discussion Helps French Audience Understand Difficult Side of Taiwan's History
Ahead of the May 19th "White Terror Memorial Day," the France-Taiwan Association held a special screening of the Taiwanese film "A Mother's Song" in Paris. French audiences and the renowned sinologist Marie Holzman gained a deeper understanding of Taiwan's White Terror era and its path to democratization, with many praising Taiwan's progression to democracy.
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, May 13) With "White Terror Memorial Day" on May 19th approaching, the France-Taiwan Association held a special screening of the Taiwanese film "A Mother's Song." Some French audience members felt that the film subtly traced that period of history through emotion; sinologist Marie Holzman, meanwhile, said that Taiwan's journey towards democracy was admirable.
The special screening was held last night at the Forum des Images, a Parisian municipal audiovisual institution, with hundreds attending. Marie Holzman attended the post-screening panel discussion.
Hsu Chia-ching, Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, currently visiting Paris, delivered a speech, stating that the film's content should be a shared memory for many Taiwanese people in the 1950s, and this memory is part of historical truth. "We have strived over the past 30 to 40 years to transform Taiwan into a democratic society," and this effort will not stop, "because democracy needs to be nurtured... democracy is not immutable; it requires our collective creation and effort."
At the end of the screening, soft sobs could be heard in the darkness. French audience members Didier and Vincent watched the film together. Both have Taiwanese partners, and after watching "A Mother's Song" and participating in the discussion, they gained a new understanding of Taiwanese history.
Didier enjoyed the strong emotions and poetic moments in the film, such as the scene of the girl taking a train through the countryside, which he saw as a simple yet sincere segment. Vincent appreciated the "things that happened later" at the end of the film. "It was then that we realized how complex and difficult Taiwan's experience was."
Vincent told Central News Agency reporters that for French people, it is not easy to understand how Japanese and Chinese cultures intermingle in Taiwan, the existing regional tensions, and the conflict between the generation that experienced the White Terror and fought for democracy and the new generation. "Precisely because of this, this film is so moving, because it subtly takes us back to that period through emotional layers, doing it very skillfully."
Marie Holzman watched "A Mother's Song" twice. In the panel discussion, she spoke from the authoritarian rule of former Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek, to the changes that emerged during the administration of his successor, President Chiang Ching-kuo, and then to the direct presidential elections achieved in 1996. "If we look back at Taiwan's evolution and carefully consider what Taiwan looks like today, we can only marvel at this gradual development process."
She mentioned that people in Taiwan can now discuss history and openly examine the past, whereas this year marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of China's Cultural Revolution, yet Chinese people still struggle to fully understand the facts, with people avoiding discussion of the violence from that time, as if the Cultural Revolution were some kind of folk legend.
She also stated that when many people in a country believe that a good democratic system should be implemented, "people will realize that democracy is extremely precious and at the same time very fragile, and in Taiwan, democracy continues to deepen, so we should talk about Taiwan, support Taiwan, and praise its achievements."
Lu Chien-cheng, President of the France-Taiwan Association, said that the White Terror is a history that should not be forgotten. Remembering and discussing it is not to create hatred but to remind people what happened and how it happened, to bear collective responsibility and obligation, and to prevent similar events from recurring.
In addition, the European Taiwan Association recently launched a petition advocating "supporting Taiwan to strengthen its national defense and demonstrate its determination for self-defense," hoping to rally the strength of overseas Taiwanese in Europe to express their views during Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu's visit to Europe.
Lu Chien-cheng said that after witnessing the war between Ukraine and Russia, people clearly understand the importance of self-reliant defense, and Taiwan must achieve this goal as soon as possible to avoid being bullied. He hopes that through the petition, domestic political circles and international friends will know the concern of overseas Taiwanese on this issue, and also allow Europeans to see that Taiwan, like other democratic countries, has various voices, and Taiwanese people "will resolutely defend their own voices well." (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-hsuan, Paris, May 13) With "White Terror Memorial Day" on May 19th approaching, the France-Taiwan Association held a special screening of the Taiwanese film "A Mother's Song." Some French audience members felt that the film subtly traced that period of history through emotion; sinologist Marie Holzman, meanwhile, said that Taiwan's journey towards democracy was admirable.
The special screening was held last night at the Forum des Images, a Parisian municipal audiovisual institution, with hundreds attending. Marie Holzman attended the post-screening panel discussion.
Hsu Chia-ching, Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, currently visiting Paris, delivered a speech, stating that the film's content should be a shared memory for many Taiwanese people in the 1950s, and this memory is part of historical truth. "We have strived over the past 30 to 40 years to transform Taiwan into a democratic society," and this effort will not stop, "because democracy needs to be nurtured... democracy is not immutable; it requires our collective creation and effort."
At the end of the screening, soft sobs could be heard in the darkness. French audience members Didier and Vincent watched the film together. Both have Taiwanese partners, and after watching "A Mother's Song" and participating in the discussion, they gained a new understanding of Taiwanese history.
Didier enjoyed the strong emotions and poetic moments in the film, such as the scene of the girl taking a train through the countryside, which he saw as a simple yet sincere segment. Vincent appreciated the "things that happened later" at the end of the film. "It was then that we realized how complex and difficult Taiwan's experience was."
Vincent told Central News Agency reporters that for French people, it is not easy to understand how Japanese and Chinese cultures intermingle in Taiwan, the existing regional tensions, and the conflict between the generation that experienced the White Terror and fought for democracy and the new generation. "Precisely because of this, this film is so moving, because it subtly takes us back to that period through emotional layers, doing it very skillfully."
Marie Holzman watched "A Mother's Song" twice. In the panel discussion, she spoke from the authoritarian rule of former Republic of China President Chiang Kai-shek, to the changes that emerged during the administration of his successor, President Chiang Ching-kuo, and then to the direct presidential elections achieved in 1996. "If we look back at Taiwan's evolution and carefully consider what Taiwan looks like today, we can only marvel at this gradual development process."
She mentioned that people in Taiwan can now discuss history and openly examine the past, whereas this year marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of China's Cultural Revolution, yet Chinese people still struggle to fully understand the facts, with people avoiding discussion of the violence from that time, as if the Cultural Revolution were some kind of folk legend.
She also stated that when many people in a country believe that a good democratic system should be implemented, "people will realize that democracy is extremely precious and at the same time very fragile, and in Taiwan, democracy continues to deepen, so we should talk about Taiwan, support Taiwan, and praise its achievements."
Lu Chien-cheng, President of the France-Taiwan Association, said that the White Terror is a history that should not be forgotten. Remembering and discussing it is not to create hatred but to remind people what happened and how it happened, to bear collective responsibility and obligation, and to prevent similar events from recurring.
In addition, the European Taiwan Association recently launched a petition advocating "supporting Taiwan to strengthen its national defense and demonstrate its determination for self-defense," hoping to rally the strength of overseas Taiwanese in Europe to express their views during Legislative Yuan President Han Kuo-yu's visit to Europe.
Lu Chien-cheng said that after witnessing the war between Ukraine and Russia, people clearly understand the importance of self-reliant defense, and Taiwan must achieve this goal as soon as possible to avoid being bullied. He hopes that through the petition, domestic political circles and international friends will know the concern of overseas Taiwanese on this issue, and also allow Europeans to see that Taiwan, like other democratic countries, has various voices, and Taiwanese people "will resolutely defend their own voices well." (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Without authorization, the text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized.