Island in Between | An Oscar-Nominated Op-Doc
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Published 2023-12-11
Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands governed by Taiwan that were the front lines of the first and second Taiwan Straits Crises decades ago. They lie just a few miles from mainland China, and these days, locals are unsure what escalating tensions mean for the future.
Taiwanese voices are often drowned out by Chinese and American narratives, overshadowed by the global power plays going on around us. Few people outside the region understand what life is actually like for the Taiwanese people caught in between two superpowers. I made this documentary to show life in Taiwan through the eyes of the people who live there, including me.
At this moment, as we struggle to make sense of the horrors of war, I hope this documentary can play a small part in advocating for peace.
- Film and Text by S. Leo Chiang
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All Comments (21)
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Geo-politics is often shown from 10,000 feet, in the large, impersonal way that makes it hard for people to truly grasp. Vignettes like this, they tell a very personal story, do a great deal of good in helping almost anyone actually feel how this impacts everyday life for those caught in the crosshairs. Thank you for enlightening those of us who have no personal connection to China, Taiwan or Kinmen.
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Please allow me to comment in Chinese. 看了之後, 我寫給所有朋友們推薦這支短片: 「如果你有二十分鐘, 請安靜地享受這一部剛剛獲得奧斯卡提名的記錄短片: Kinmen, Island in Between。我保證它值得你的時間, 它會讓你憶起小時候, 想想現在和未來。開頭沒多久, 我的眼眶已發熱, 心中的悸動愈來愈高。好多個鏡頭, 都讓我按下暫停鍵, 感懷良久。 這位江松長, 是個人才!」
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I was born in Kinmen. People in Kinmen they don't want war to happen, there are traces of war everywhere we can see. We know the horrors of war. When I was young, I often heard stories from my grandparents and family about the war. It can be said that Kinmen people have not yet emerged from the shadow of the war. Thanks to this video for letting everyone see Kinmen, but there are still many stories about Kinmen that can be explored. I have to say a one thing, I'm from Kinmen and I'm from Taiwan.
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Realizing how much of an inflection point we are in history and how easily the world could go in any number of ways is truly mind boggling.
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I am one of those Taiwanese who's never visited Kinmen. And my parents met in Kinmen while serving, too! Your film is such an eye opener. Thank you Leo, for your powerful, moving, and thoughtful narrative. Bravo and congratulations! Fingers crossed for you during awards season!
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As a Taiwanese American I loved this video so much!! So many shared sentiments
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What a beautiful made video essay. Heartwrenching. As a Chinese American, I am heart broken
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Beautifully told narration. What a compelling story coupled with excellent cinematography! Indeed, the story of Kinmen is the story of being caught in a never ending tussle between fragile peace and simmering war. 😢
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I'm from Shanghai and have lived half of my life in China and half in the US. Heart-broken is the word. I don't know why I am in tears.
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The contrast between the calmness of daily life and the political tensions is fascinating.
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Oscar is an excellent vehicle to broaden another horizon of most YouTube viewers about the true nature of the Taiwan nation its identity most needed so far. Through your independent hard work and possible award winning can further advance our goal. Thank you for your earnest heart bringing Taiwan to the world.
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拍攝的手法及剪輯、配樂都相當的功力，尤其我最喜愛長鏡頭由遠拉近歐厝沙灘坦克那一幕，還有夕陽西下坦克對著日落那一刻，好美好美。如果眼睛只能看見單色系，只能接受政治對立的朋友那就太可惜這部藝術影片！
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Thank you so much for making this!! I cannot express how much I relate to this as a Taiwanese American. I grew up in Taiwan and am now in the US for college. My parents also told me and my sister to have a plan if China invaded and told us that they probably wouldn't leave since we had so many family here. While doing my military service over the summmer, I learned that my grandpa was stationed in Kinman for 5 years after he flee China from the Civil War. And I remember before doing my service my uncle told me how worried my grandma and grandpa was he was stationed in Kinman back in the 90s.
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Wonderful film! As a South Korean with an American passport, this story deeply resonates with me.
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Beautiful movie. I'm from Ukraine. And this movie resonates with me so much. We are undergoing the same situation here after Russia's invasion. There is a phrase in the movie that is golden: "Many in Kinmen ... think that US should stop interfering". It's the same here. Instead of throwing weapons and money left and right it's better to provide us with skilled diplomats to settle the conflict and stop unnecessary deaths instigated by countries who "all know what's best for me but don't care what I want"
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《金門》的英文片名 取得非常有意思， 《ISLAND IN BETWEEN》 以極具詩意的方式暗喻「中間地位」， 在中國與台灣之間的島嶼， 以及在中國與美國之間的台灣。
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這是一部令人感慨且具啟發性的紀錄片！看完影片，讓人不禁感嘆: 回顧古今中外歷史，有多少的歷史悲劇，如敵對所造成的迫害、戰爭而導致民不聊生、骨肉分離、家破人亡等等…，實際都是因為統治者和掌權者的私心、貪欲而造成的！ This is a touching and inspiring documentary! After watching the film, people can’t help but sigh: Looking back at ancient and modern Chinese and foreign history, there are so many historical tragedies, such as persecution caused by hostility, wars that lead to people’s deprivation of life, separation of flesh and blood, family destruction, etc... In fact, many of them were due to the selfishness and the greed of the rulers and those in power.
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氛圍很舒服可以無負擔地看完～ 祝福讓這支紀錄短片可以有更多人看到～祝福得奧斯卡獎❤
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繼吳念真之後，拍攝濃濃家鄉味與溫暖人心的聲音。
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I visited Kinmen in July and it was a unique experience to learn the history as an graduate student studying geopolitics. Hope to visit the island again soon!
