Voices of Orchid Island is a Taiwanese documentary directed by Hu Tai-li. The film records the perspectives of the Yami people (now known as the Tao) living in Orchid Island regarding tourism development, modern healthcare, and the establishment of a nuclear waste storage site on the island.[1]

Synopsis

As a Han anthropologist, Hu collaborated with the Bunun doctor Tien Jacob, enlisted the help of two anti-nuclear young Tao people, Si Nuzai (施努來) and Kuo Chien-ping (郭健平),[2] to complete this work. In the first part, the film explores the traditional beliefs of the Tao people regarding their fear of photography technology and their disdain for becoming subjects of Taiwanese tourists. The tourists often belittle the traditional loincloth as a symbol of backwardness.[1]

In the second part, the film reveals the gap between modern medical and traditional beliefs.[3] Although there is a health center on the island, medical resources remain inadequate. Because the tribe believes that diseases originate from the intrusion of evil spirits (anito),[4] or they consider the economic burden of transportation costs for off-island treatment, Tao people are reluctant to seek medical care. This makes it difficult to promote medical practices locally. The film also documents how the tribe conducts rituals to exorcise evil spirits.

The final part is about the nuclear issue.[3] Since 1970, the Taiwan Power Company has established a nuclear waste storage site on the island for burying nuclear waste.[5] The anti-nuclear youth on the island struggled because many residents pursued education and employment in Taiwan, leading to a loss of land identity and cultural connection with Orchid Island. Their advocacy faced challenges in gaining resonance.

Awards and Festivals

References[6][7]

References

  1. 1 2 邱, 貴芬 (2004). "紀錄片／奇觀／文化異質：以《蘭嶼觀點》與《私角落》為例". 中外文學. 32 (11): 127–128.
  2. ↑ 胡, 台麗 (2012). "臺灣原住民民族誌影片的新貌". 原住民族文獻. 4.
  3. 1 2 "蘭嶼觀點". TaiwanDocs台灣紀錄片資料庫 (in Traditional Chinese). 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  4. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2019-05-05). "疾病死亡不是惡靈是恩典 蘭嶼雅布書卡嫩的故事 | 生活". 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  5. ↑ 張, 國暉; 蔡, 友月 (2020). "驅不走達悟惡靈的民主治理夢魘：蘭嶼核廢遷場僵局的政策史分析" (PDF). 台灣社會研究季刊. 115: 80.
  6. ↑ "Voices of Orchid Island". Taiwan Docs. 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
  7. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2014-03-01). "亞洲女性影展 台灣女導演前進國際 - 國際 - 自由時報電子報". news.ltn.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
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