2004
Taiwan International Documentary Festival
台灣獎優選獎
全城警戒降二級的某個下午，我們跟朱詩倩導演相約在後場音像紀錄工作室。這次的專訪企畫原先只能在線上進行，所幸警戒降級，才有機會一訪催生出《非法母親》、《愛別離苦》、《新宿駅，東口以東》、《紅盒子》等紀錄片的傳奇工作室。抵達工作室，一打開門就聽見楊力州導演爽朗地跟人通著電話，朱詩倩導演從房門後走出來迎接我們，小兒子在房裡寫著功課，而工作室的窗景，是新店的碧潭。
創下台灣樂團募資史上最高紀錄的拍謝少年，5月發行了全新台語專輯《歹勢好勢》，睽違四年發專輯的他們，只唱了一場live就碰上三級警戒，後續練團及演出只好暫時停擺。疫情下居家工作的拍謝少年，日常生活都在忙些什麼？待在家裡不能出門的日子，都會看些什麼作品？
Japan—a land of paradox and fascination—has long captivated travelers from afar. With deep-rooted traditions that have withstood over 150 years of rapid Westernization, Japan continues to preserve a unique national identity and way of life, while also giving rise to a distinct and globally influential pop culture. This month, Giloo Documentaries presents a curated selection of films that explore the many faces of Japan. Journey with us across mountains and oceans, through surface and depth—encountering the worlds of fashion, Takarazuka theater, love hotels, fine cuisine, robotics, and contemporary art. Modern Japan is vibrant, eclectic, and often wildly unexpected—and these films capture its raw, untamed spirit.
For most people, “home” naturally refers to the place one returns to each day—a space of comfort and rest for both body and soul. Yet for many around the world, the feeling of having a home is unimaginable. At some point in their lives, they were forced to leave—because of war, politics, or simply in pursuit of a better life—and began a journey of drifting, searching for a new sense of home. While trying to settle and take root, they continue to yearn for the ghost of a homeland left behind. Can this new home ever replace what was lost? Faced with new identities and unfamiliar neighbors, how do they perceive themselves? Have they become someone new, or are they destined to remain like rootless water plants, adrift?
Taiwanese native rock band Sorry Youth shares their exclusive and personal film picks! Lead vocalist Winnie re-watches The Chronicle of Oyster Village every six months—it captures a vivid snapshot of those formative years. County Road 184: East, which portrays The Labor Exchange Band’s passionate musical devotion to the land, is Ginger’s top choice. Drummer Chung-Han strongly recommends Lantouke: The Story of the Loh Tsui Kweh Commune, a raw and powerful look at music as a tool for social resistance—its rebellious spirit still shapes Sorry Youth’s music and mindset today. These five carefully selected documentaries are perfect for fans stuck at home during lockdown—especially indie music lovers and theater people. Let these moving images sharpen your sense of place, and offer a glimpse into the roots of the “Sorry Youth” sound.
I'm fascinated with "borders"—be they religious, ethnic, or national. Wherever there's a border, there's desire and there are stories. The purpose of a border is to prohibit passage, and yet, like a magical force, it draws people such as "On the Border" or Mexican refugees to seek out rumored, unknown territories. Whether one leaves actively or passively—due to livelihood, adoption, or war—once you step out of your homeland, returning becomes an even longer story.
You are not alone — ten hidden gems curated for the one with a unique taste!
The Women Make Waves International Film Festival in Taiwan is Asia’s first issue-based film festival focusing on women. Since its founding 29 years ago, it has been dedicated not only to promoting women's work in cinema but also to introducing Taiwanese audiences to films rich in gender discourse and humanistic vision. Giloo presents a curated selection of award-winning and officially selected films from the festival — both fiction and documentary — inviting you to revisit and celebrate these powerful works.
In psychology, divergent thinking refers to the ability to approach a problem by generating multiple possible solutions, rather than narrowing in on a single answer or getting stuck in a fixed mode of inquiry. Its opposite, convergent thinking, relies on existing knowledge and traditional patterns to arrive at a conventional conclusion. I love watching documentaries—especially those that explore issues far removed from everyday life. A good documentary, like a good book, condenses an enormous amount of insight into the span of a film. Through a director’s lens and structure, you come to know a person, a group, or an event, and gain valuable nourishment in the process. It’s an incredibly efficient form of learning. Thanks to the nature of the internet, learning today is no longer linear. It’s multidirectional, multidimensional—a practice of divergent thinking. As a well-known writer once said:"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." In a time where eclectic knowledge and self-learning have become the norm, a thirst for understanding and a passion for living mean we’re no longer limited to holding just two ideas —we hold many.
A boy who survived ethnic cleansing, a sled athlete pushing the limits of the body, a protester labeled a rioter, a former firefighter painting cat graffiti on the streets of Tamsui… These individuals, each carrying their own story, leave behind glimpses of life through the camera lens — and in doing so, offer living proof of their communities' existence. Follow Giloo on a journey through lives of every kind — there's always a greater story waiting to be discovered.