Formosa 3D
“The essence of Taiwan’s beauty lies in its people, especially the spirit of traditional craftsman.”
From the migration of purple butterflies to the crafting of bamboo steam baskets, Charlie Chu, Taiwan’s leading 3D film director has spent a decade painstakingly capturing the island’s beauty. Recorded 10 exquisite scenery, and 100 traditional craftsmen, Formosa 3D is a stunning montage of Taiwan’s nature and varied landscapes, as well as portraying traditional trades at risk of dying out.
Length: 78 min
[Filmmaker in attendance for Q&A.]
Genre: Documentary
Director: Charlie Chu
Narrator: Hsiao Yeh
Awards: 3D Creative Arts Awards International Jury Prize
Rating: G
Language: English subtitles
Formosa 3D on TWFF2018 Website
Director Chu, Chuan-li
From the migration of purple butterflies to the crafting of bamboo steam baskets, CHU, Chuan-li, Taiwan’s leading 3D film director has spent a decade painstakingly capturing the
island’s beauty. Recorded 10 exquisite scenery, and 100 traditional craftsmen, Formosa 3D is a stunning montage of Taiwan’s nature and varied landscapes, as well as portraying
traditional trades at risk of dying out.
In 2002, Chu was diagnosed with a brain tumor that affected his sight, hearing and ability to eat. After undergoing 28 hours of surgery, the left half of his body no longer functions properly. But despite all his accolades, Chu calls himself a “foolish director who is half-blind and half-deaf”.
He recounts how his team spent three years trying to capture the purple crow butterflies portrayed in the new movie – they can only be seen for a few months each winter in an aboriginal village in southern Taiwan. “Who would spend three years doing that? Only a crazy person,” Chu said at his studio in Taipei.
In 2013, Chu won the Harold Lloyd Award for 3D Taiwan, along with director Ang Lee for Life of Pi. Since 2014 Chu has also toured Taiwan with a van installed with two 3D televisions, setting up his mobile cinema in schools in remote and underprivileged areas. He said he was encouraged by how the medium expands children’s ambitions and raises their awareness of the environment.
Text source and photocredit: Vancouver Taiwanese Film Festival
