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The Last Rice Farmers

Wide Angle

Rural · Social Criticism · Labor  

  • CountryTaiwan
  • Production Year2004
  • Running Time107min
  • Format DV
  • ColorCOLOR
Program Note
The farm village is abandoned by the young and only old men are left. After the WTO accession, rice prices plummeted. They cannot stop working as farmers even with their entire body aching from working all these years. The Last Rice Farmers is a documentary film of three rice farmers in Houbi village. The 65 to 75-year-old men believe they are born farmers, but confess at the same time that "without rice, there′s no worry", which becomes the inspiration for the Chinese title, (No rice means happiness). The film records a year of rice farming so closely that it seems to be a good farming manual. The singing, praying and working farmers talk about the harsh realities, but always with a smile. Their optimism and calmness have made their old faces and bodies beautiful. The camera of Lan Chuan Yen and Yi Tseng Juang often stops at their bare feet and the farms basking under the sunset. It is not the eyes of strangers, but the eyes of respect for the beauty of life. The Last Rice Farmers criticizes today′s realities, but at the same time, pays respect to the lives of farmers. (Kang So-won)
Director
Yi-tseng Juang
Born in 1966, Juang holds a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from National Taiwan University, and engaged in advanced studies at the Tainan National University of the Arts in audio/visual documentary research. Recent works include documentaries on Taiwanese elections: [Baituo, Baituo!](2002) and [Election Rhapsody](2002), both of which were aired as part of Public Television Service’s “Point of View” documentary series.
Lan-chuan Yen
Born in 1965, Lan Chuan Yen graduated with dual Bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and sociology from Soochow University, and later received a Master’s degree in drama film/television production as well as a PGD in documentary film/television production from Sheffield University. His documentary [Earthquake](2002) covered the 1999 earthquake that devastated Taiwan, and was a finalist at the 2002 Documentary Biennial.
Photo
Credit
  • Director Yi-tseng Juang 주앙 이쳉, Lan-chuan Yen 옌 란추안
  • Screenplay Yen Lan Chung & Juang Yi Tseng
  • Cinematography Yen Lan Chung & Juang Yi Tseng& Chang, Kuang Tzung
  • Editor Yen, Lan Chuan
  • Music Chen, Ming Chang