Taiwan’s other side in “Dust In the Wind”

Posted on July 31, 2012

From left: Wan (Chien-wen Wang) and Huen (Shufen Xin) are high school sweethearts in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written by

Jude Bautista

Taiwan these days is thought of as a high tech and progressive economy. Taipei as a megalopolis usually comes to mind. Filmmakers have that unique insight into their own country, a side that the whole world usually doesn’t see or even know about. Director Hou Hsiao Hsien shows what people wouldn’t see or even think about Taiwan in the film “Dust In the Wind” (Lian Lian Feng Chen).

Wan (Chien-wen Wang) goes to night school while working hard during the day in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

From right: Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Press Div. Head Dr. Wellington Wei, TECO Press Asst. Abby Moreno, Shangri-la Mktg. Div Head Marline Concio-Dualan, Shangri-la Mktg officer MJ Mendoza, Shangri-la Plaza Mktg. Officer Mimi Tecson and TECO Sr. Press Officer Peter Huang. Photo was taken at the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest 2012 Presscon. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

You can watch this film and many other Taiwanese masterpieces for free. The film is part of the 3^rd Taiwanese Film fest at the Shang Cineplex in Shag Rila Plaza mall from August 3-6, 2012. Hou Hsiao Hsien is one of the most revered directors in Taiwan who has won awards way before Ang Lee was recognized in Hollywood. French film director Olivier Assayas made a documentary on him that has garnered critical acclaim entitled “HHH: A Portrait of Hou Hsiao-Hsien”.

Huen (played by Shufen Xin) in the film “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Wan’s father talks about the good old days in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

The film “Dust in The Wind” may be considered as Taiwan’s own version of a poverty film. Wan played by Chien-wen Wang, is the eldest of a brood of five decides to work in the big city of Taipei. His father is reluctant to let him work wanting him to finish his studies. Never the less he gives in the saying, “If you want to be a ox, there will always be a plow for you.”

Audiences get a glimpse of rural Taiwan in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

They are from a small and remote mining town of Jio Fen, which is very idyllic. Cinematography is impeccable revealing rolling green hills dotted with vegetable gardens and rice paddies. The coast shows strong waves and cloudy, misty skies. Their birthplace is where people still have strong traditional Chinese beliefs. Wan’s girl friend Huen (Shufen Xin) is one of the prettiest in the village and she too decides to work in the city. He helps find her a job as a seamstress. Both of them try to adjust in their new life.

An outdoor film showing in the town of Jio Fen in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

They also paint their movie billboards in Taipei like Cubao or Recto. Scene is from “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Wan works for a small printing press while his friends work for a movie billboard making company. This was when the billboards were still painted by hand which they still do here in Manila. Their living conditions in Taipei are far from ideal. Rooms are cramped almost shanty-like. Bosses are also tough and abusive. Worker’s welfare is almost non-existent. It’s a theme that is repeated throughout Asia. Here in the Philippines we have our own OFW phenomenon, diaspora of people from the rural areas looking for jobs in the cities or abroad.

Wan feeds his friend King after a work related injury in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Loneliness and economic difficulties often make people do desperate things. The pair finds this out the hard way. In Taiwan the military services offer higher wages but also keeps new recruits away from family and loved ones. Wan enlists himself in the army to earn more. A political statement by Hou Hsiao Hsien was also made in one scene. Wan is stationed in a coastal army barrack. The coast guards bring in a family from a fishing vessel. They found a couple and their young child on board from the People’s Republic of China. When they try to feed them, the father was suspicious and thought they would be poisoned by the Taiwanese authorities.

Huen misses family and friends in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Even if they haven’t eaten for days a family from PROC refuse the food offered by Taiwanese authorities. Scene is from “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

Wan and his friends start to laugh and eat the pork buns (siopao) they serve to prove they are safe. Even if the family hadn’t eaten for days they were very suspicious of the Taiwanese. It’s an indication of how the Socialist government in P.R.O.C has created this false impression of Taiwanese to its citizens.

Wan and Huen go home for Ghost Day in “Dust In the Wind” by Hou Hsiao Hsien. Catch this and other films in the Shang Cineplex, Shangri-la Plaza during the Taiwan Film fest. The fest will be held from August 3-6, 2012. Photo by Jude Bautista

One of the more interesting characters is Grandpa played by Tian Lu Li. In one of the power outages he mistakes a firecracker for a candle and lights it. He always mouths proverbs. To console his grandson near the end he tells Wan, “You cannot fight destiny.”