In the most famous ancestral house of Taiwan's matrilineal Amis tribe, carved pillars tell the community's most cherished legends. Some forty years ago, a strong typhoon toppled the house, after which the pillars were moved to the Institute of Ethnology Museum.
Recently, young villagers, with assistance from female shamans, challenged tribal members and village representatives to communicate with the ancestors residing in the pillars. They eventually brought those souls back--rather than the pillars themselves--and began reconstructing the house.
The documentary depicts this intimate family story within a politically charged historical framework. In an environment highly influenced by western religions, national land policy, and local politics, the dream of the young for cultural revitalization speaks to people around the globe who work to connect past and present, old and new.
Featuring a performance by Joseph Lin, First Violinist, Julliard String Quarter.
New York City, NY; NYC