Taiwan Film Week brings island's stories, culture to Jerusalem

Taiwanese culture and society will be showcased in Jerusalem through the inaugural Taiwan Film Week, running from June 18-24 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. The festival, featuring six films, aims to offer Israelis a more profound insight into Taiwan beyond its geopolitical relationship with China.

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Israeli audiences enjoy these films, discover new perspectives about Taiwan, and leave the cinema feeling much closer to Taiwanese people and culture.

Ya-Ping (Abby) Lee, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv, described the event as a "celebration of storytelling and friendship." She expressed hope that Israeli audiences would discover new perspectives on Taiwan and feel a closer connection to its people and culture.

The film selection spans various genres, styles, and themes. A notable inclusion is "Left-Handed Girl," which has garnered international acclaim and was Taiwan's submission for the Best International Feature Film at the Oscars, reaching the shortlist. This film delves into generational divides and existential societal challenges.

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What interests me about the Taiwanese film industry, in comparison with the Israeli industry, is that conflict is ever-present. For them it is the conflict with China and, like in contemporary Israeli cinema, it is always there, and absent and then present. That is something that resonates in contemporary [Taiwanese] cinema. It is frequently there in the background.

Roni Mahadav-Levin, head of the Jerusalem Cinematheque, sees parallels between Taiwan and Israel, particularly in the persistent presence of conflict. He noted that "conflict is ever-present" in Taiwanese cinema, much like in contemporary Israeli films, often existing in the background. Mahadav-Levin highlighted "A Touch of Zen" (1971) and "Left-Handed Girl" as examples where political divisions are evident in the storylines.

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I think it is an issue in the classic film, A Touch of Zen, from 1971, and also in Left-Handed Girl. Left-Handed Girl was launched at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, as part of Critics Week.