Documentary Film Screening: They Are Flying (2008)
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: Griffith Film Theater (note location)
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An event of the Chinese Urbanization & Migration Working Group - sponsored by the Asian Pacific Studies Institute (APSI), the Program in the Arts of the Moving Image (AMI), and the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES)
They Are Flying
(Huang Chia-chun, 2008, 118, Taiwan, Mandarin with English subtitles, Color, DVD)
In the summer of 2006, a group of disadvantaged youths accomplished a remarkable feat by completing a 1,000 kilometer trip around the island on unicycles. Many of the boys have been victims of domestic violence; some have run away from home and others have been in trouble with the police. But over the course of their journey, we witness the beginnings of psychological healing. Their inspiring story is captured in the 2008 Taipei Film Festival award-winning documentary THEY ARE FLYING.
The movie highlights some of Taiwan's beautiful scenery; however, the real story here is that of the boys and the two men, Reverend Huang and Lu Su-wei, who inspire and lead them on the ride. The boys come from troubled backgrounds, each of which is so compelling that it could be a documentary in itself.
“The documentary shows learning to ride a unicycle is not easy. It involves falling off many times. In many ways it is a metaphor for the boys’ lives. THEY ARE FLYING is an inspiring and moving documentary. I highly recommend it.”
-- popular Taiwan blogger ‘David on Formosa’
-- Q&A to follow with director Huang Chia-chun!
