Taiwan Docs

Photo Copyright © CHIANG Mei-ju. All Rights Reserved.

Qiu-yan lives in Taiwan Guantian Village's Fanzaitian town. Alizu is a spirit of that place. Qui-yan must watch over of a whole family's livelihood, while Alizu must protect the whole settlement's peace and prosperity.

Qui-yan complains that she was never able to study enough as her marriage was determined by Alizu at the age of eight, and marrying very early brings some regrets. She says as she soeaks, "This is life." Alizu also has some complaints. When the shrine was remodeled time was too tight, and it was oriented wrong so he would rather stay in the some small home as before.

Qui-yan is Qui-yan, and Qui-yan is Alizu. One body sometimes holds two souls living inside. Occasionally, Qui-yan isn't to be found. Alizu will speak to the director and to the camera, and we can sense another world before us. Ofthen when Qui-yan returns, excited family members will tell her all that Alizu said and did. The world on the other side of the camera transforms back to the familiar.

Can the viewer or even Qui-yan herself clearly determine what is real and where to find her real "self"? Qui-yan and an older arranged wife from abother village meet during Pingbu tribal ceremonies. The difference of seniority between the two does not create a barrier between them at all. The two of them shake hands, and when their eyes meet Alizu knows he can never be deserted.

Source: Taiwan Int'l Ethnographic Film Festival
http://www.tieff.sinica.edu.tw/ch/2001/part3/english-Cb-4-2.jpg