Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwanese-American filmmaker Vicky Du (杜爾淇) has won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 San Diego Asian Film Festival for her thought-provoking documentary, Light of the Setting Sun (迴光返照). Du’s film, which explores the intergenerational trauma within her family, stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in addressing difficult historical narratives.
The 73-minute documentary took home the top honor at the festival’s award ceremony held on Saturday in California. Light of the Setting Sun traces Du’s personal journey to understand the silence surrounding her family’s history, particularly the cycles of violence that have persisted for three generations, beginning with the aftermath of the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949.
A Deep Dive Into Family Trauma and Silence
Du’s documentary provides an intimate look at the complex relationship between history, memory, and trauma. Through painstaking archival research and interviews with relatives, Du sought to bring to light the untold stories that shaped her family’s painful past.
Speaking at the ceremony, Du shared her motivation behind the film: “This is a period of our history that we rarely speak about,” she said. “While our elders are still healthy, I wanted to seize the opportunity to document their memories before they fade away.” Du traveled across the world to record her family’s stories, with visits to Taipei, Dongguan (China), Toronto, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.
The film touches on the emotional weight carried by her family’s silence, which extends back to the civil strife during and after the Chinese Revolution. Through this exploration, Du aims not just to understand, but also to grapple with the idea of trauma at its roots—“not a simple story of forgiveness or reconciliation,” as described in the film’s program notes, but rather a raw and honest engagement with suffering that has remained largely unspeakable for decades.
Table: Key Details of Light of the Setting Sun
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Vicky Du (杜爾淇) |
| Film Title | Light of the Setting Sun (迴光返照) |
| Award | Grand Jury Prize, San Diego Asian Film Festival 2024 |
| Documentary Focus | Family intergenerational trauma and cycles of violence since the 1949 Chinese Communist Revolution |
| Film Length | 73 minutes |
| Upcoming U.S. Airing | PBS in 2025 |
| Festival | San Diego Asian Film Festival |
| Festival Dates | Nov. 7-16, 2024 |
| Other Taiwanese Films Screened | Dead Talents Society (徐漢強), Mahjong (楊德昌), Pierce (刺心切骨) |
Vicky Du’s Filmmaking Journey and Achievements
Vicky Du’s film debut, Light of the Setting Sun, marks a significant milestone in her career. An alumna of Columbia University, where she earned a degree in Biology of the Human Species, Du has always been interested in storytelling that intersects personal history and global contexts. Based in Berlin, Du has also contributed to media outlets like National Geographic and The New York Times through short films.
In this feature-length documentary, Du combines her scientific background with her creative vision, meticulously piecing together a narrative that is at once personal and universal. It is a film about grappling with the complexities of historical trauma and the stories that are often silenced by time and circumstance.
Taiwan’s Presence at the San Diego Asian Film Festival
The Taiwan Academy, which has been a long-time partner of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, showcased several other Taiwanese films at this year’s festival, including John Hsu’s box office hit Dead Talents Society and Edward Yang’s classic Mahjong. The festival also featured the film Pierce (刺心切骨), a co-production between Taiwan, Singapore, and Poland, further highlighting the dynamic and growing presence of Taiwanese cinema in the global film scene.
This year marked the 13th consecutive year that the Taiwan Academy has collaborated with the San Diego Asian Film Festival to present a program of Taiwanese films. The event, which runs from November 7-16, 2024, is one of the largest exhibitions of Asian cinema in Western America, screening over 170 films from 35 countries in more than 35 languages.
A Global Stage for Taiwanese Cinema
Founded in 2000, the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) has become a leading platform for showcasing the diversity of Asian cinema. This year’s festival celebrates not only the achievements of directors like Vicky Du but also the cultural richness and diversity of Asian films that continue to gain recognition worldwide.
For the Taiwanese community, the festival serves as an important opportunity to promote the country’s burgeoning film industry on the international stage. Du’s win at the Grand Jury Prize is a proud moment for Taiwan, further elevating the country’s presence in the global cinematic landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is Light of the Setting Sun about?
Light of the Setting Sun is a documentary by Taiwanese-American director Vicky Du that explores the intergenerational trauma within her family, rooted in the violence and upheaval following the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949. The film is a personal journey to uncover her family’s hidden history and address the cycles of suffering that have persisted for generations.
2. What award did Vicky Du win at the 2024 San Diego Asian Film Festival?
Vicky Du won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 San Diego Asian Film Festival for her documentary Light of the Setting Sun.
3. Where will Light of the Setting Sun be aired?
The documentary is set to air on PBS in 2025 in the U.S., offering a broader audience the chance to experience Du’s compelling narrative.
4. What other Taiwanese films were shown at the festival?
Other notable Taiwanese films at the 2024 San Diego Asian Film Festival included John Hsu’s Dead Talents Society, Edward Yang’s classic Mahjong, and the co-produced film Pierce.
5. How long has the Taiwan Academy collaborated with the San Diego Asian Film Festival?
The Taiwan Academy has collaborated with the San Diego Asian Film Festival for 13 consecutive years, showcasing Taiwanese cinema and providing a platform for filmmakers to share their work with an international audience.
Conclusion: A Milestone for Taiwanese Filmmaking
Vicky Du’s achievement at the San Diego Asian Film Festival marks a significant milestone for Taiwanese-American filmmakers and showcases the growing recognition of Taiwanese cinema on the global stage. As her documentary prepares to reach audiences through PBS in 2025, Du’s story of exploring her family’s trauma offers a unique and deeply personal perspective on the lasting impacts of history.
