Five new documentaries explore identity, labor, and family

Public Television Service's "2026 Viewpoint Short Film Exhibition" is showcasing five new documentaries, each directed by a new talent exploring contemporary issues through personal lenses. The films delve into national identity, labor, family relationships, and environmental soundscapes.

"The Name Suspended" follows the journey of Qi Yao, the director's Chinese wife, as she navigates the complex process of obtaining a Taiwanese identity card. Director Chen Xuanjing stated the film aims to offer a different perspective on immigration and belonging, prompting reflection on freedom, democracy, and family through an intimate relationship. He was inspired to document this process due to controversial online remarks made by some internet personalities with Chinese spouses, hoping to encourage objective reflection and prevent future mistakes.

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This work is not about taking a stand for anyone, but through an intimate relationship, to gaze upon how freedom falls upon a person's daily life, family, and name.

"Cracking the Chest Stone" by director Ye Zhiren uses a car accident settlement as a starting point to explore the director's relationship with his father. The film captures their absurd yet sincere interactions, with the title reflecting Ye's mixed feelings of concern and hope for his family's future. A seemingly absurd plan by his father to profit from pigeon racing becomes a vehicle for mutual understanding.

"One Square Meter of Noise" by director Lin Yusheng focuses on sound artist Wu Canzheng and his decade-long project to collect over 16,000 sound recordings across Taiwan. The film invites viewers to experience Taiwan's unique soundscapes, from ocean waves to human voices, encouraging a deeper understanding of self and place through listening.

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I think we, because we have lived in the same social framework for a long time, sometimes need to borrow the perspectives and viewpoints of others to jump out of existing thinking and frameworks. Discussing and reflecting from an objective perspective is also to avoid the same mistakes in the future.

"Pink Bus" by director Xiao Yurou profiles two long-haul bus drivers, Wei Ge and A Jia, highlighting the daily lives of urban laborers. Xiao was drawn to their resilience and dreams amidst repetitive work, noting their continued hope for the future and their search for moments of respite. The director was inspired by a solitary illuminated bus at a depot one night, prompting him to explore the drivers' lives and challenge the perception of them as mere tools.

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Partly it is worry and unease about the family, and partly it is my expectation for the family. Because I don't know what will happen next, I just hope that after all kinds of storms, my family can land safely.

"Very Therapy" by director Song Caixun examines her mother's experience becoming a controversial online figure during the pandemic for opposing vaccines and claiming therapeutic effects. Song grappled with her dual roles as daughter and documentarian, ultimately finding resonance in her mother's persistence. The film explores her mother's story and questions societal definitions of "normalcy" and how families navigate differing beliefs.

These five films, by turning their lenses on familiar people and lives, extend personal experiences into broader public issues, making documentaries a vital window into understanding the times and society. The films will air on PTS Viewpoint on August 13 and August 20, and will be available on PTS+ the following day.

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Sound connects our lives, memories, and experiences, and also reflects the era we live in. Perhaps only through true listening can we know where we are, and not get lost amidst the mixed information and noise.