TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang discussed the creation of his Oscar-nominated short documentary, "Island in Between," focusing on Kinmen Island, in a recent TVBS Meeting Room episode hosted by commentator Wenchi Yu on Monday (Feb. 5).
Chiang shared his fascination with Kinmen and the decision to embark on this project with CNEX CEO Ben Tsiang. He noted, "I think like most people, we've all heard about Kinmen, but very few of us have actually been there."
Born in Taiwan and moving to the U.S. at 15, Chiang felt uniquely equipped to "translate this story for the international audience," given his understanding of both Taiwanese and American culture and society. "I moved back to Taiwan about seven years ago," he stated, "and began to develop a new relationship with Taiwan and a new interest in telling these stories."
During the interview, Yu mentioned that in the documentary, Chiang used a unique analogy to describe the United States-Taiwan-China relationship, likening it to "a child involved in a three-way battle, hostile, codependent, manipulative." and “they all think they know what's best for me. But they don't really care about what I want.” He emphasized that "I" represents the Taiwanese people, hoping this analogy would help those unfamiliar with the complex geopolitical situation to better grasp it.
Chiang's goal with the film was to "ignite curiosity among audiences outside the region, prompting them to learn more about Taiwan."
Returning to the residents of Kinmen, situated less than 2km from China, Yu inquired about the differing views on the possibility of war between them and those on the main Taiwan island.
"For those seeking a normal life, you must maintain a healthy sense of denial," Chiang explained. "I think that's the ultimate frustration. Maybe that's the feeling I'm trying to capture – what it's like to live in this limbo."