Director

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  Wu Hsiu-Ching

  Song of the Reed (2013) It all began with a cup of coffee with Kang Shu-hua, the executive director of the TWRF, in the fall of 2010. Both of us had a simple wish: We’d like to document the last years of the ladies’ lives. The filming commenced. However, the process was beset with difficulties. The planned one year of filming became two. A short film became a feature. The third year was fast approaching, and it was finally finished. Four of the six ladies featured in the film passed away. This project was truly a race against time.The ladies enjoyed the workshop, but they did not like the camera at all. To make them feel at ease, we had to shrink the size of the filming crew more than once, until it was only three people. During the workshops, the ladies had to deal with their own emotional turmoil, on top of the rapid deterioration of their physical abilities. The most memorable experience was when we traveled all the way to Hualian, on the eastern coast of the island, to shoot footage, and the ladies went AWOL. They showed up the next day and announced, “If you want interviews, you have two hours only!”A constant tug of war was in my heart: do I want wonderful footage for a gripping film or a relationship with the ladies? Ultimately, I chose their friendship. Because of their trust in me, every scene was a miracle. Each turning point in each life was full of amazement. The production crew became personal witnesses of the ladies’ lives. I am truly thankful for their acceptance. Without them, this documentary would never have come to pass.​​