Office of Poding Memorial Library and Information Services

Turn Around

Adapted from a true story, it describes how Mr. Wang Zhengzhong went to Nantou to teach in a remote village in 1997. He originally wanted to leave, but chose to stay after the 921 earthquake to accompany the children through the trauma. With his creativity and passion, he turned education around, giving his students a renewed motivation to learn, and making their grades shine. Over the years, he has persevered in the face of scarce resources and has become the only teacher to win three major education awards. This movie shows how he used love and action to change the future of a remote village.

Listen before you sing

Date：10/1

Inspired by the eight-part harmony of the Bunun tribe, the story is about an elementary school in a mountainous area that is in danger of being abolished due to childlessness. A physical education teacher who can't read music notation and a homeless substitute music teacher lead a group of children who can't sing in tune to form a choir and try to win the national championship. Although they lose in the end, the children learn to listen, accept differences, find self-confidence, and truly “hear” their own voices in the process.

Maria Montessori

Date：10/8

The film focuses on Dr. Montessori's innovative approach to reforming early childhood and special education, and features performances by real children in special education, embodying the core of “follow the child” education. Director Leah Todorov's interest in the Montessori Method was rekindled by her daughter's need for special care, and her personal experience was incorporated into her work. The movie also depicts Montessori's family and career choices, and intertwines the lives of two generations of women, breaking the traditional framework both inside and outside of the movie, which has been well-received.

Like & Share

Date：10/15

Two high school girls, Lisa and Sarah, run an ASMR channel together, but each of them experiences physical and emotional confusion and trauma; Sarah is controlled and oppressed by her boyfriend's leaked private images, while Lisa transforms from a watcher to a companion who understands and accompanies her. The movie explores the incident, digital violence and gender power from multiple perspectives, revealing that “watching” can also be a victimizing act, and strongly echoes #MeToo and real-life events, making it a cautionary tale that is close to the contemporary online society.

How to be a good wife

Date：10/22

In conservative France in the 1960s, a school that trains girls to be good wives is facing an onslaught of values. As times change, the principal, Mrs. Paulette, transforms from a submissive wife to an autonomous woman in the midst of love and the awakening of women's consciousness. The movie is a light-hearted comedy that explores how women find themselves in love, marriage and education, combining the clash of generations and the rise of female power with joy, courage and hope.

Peafowl

Date：10/29

If everyone lives by the book, is life meaningful at all? The Peacock Queen uses the Waacking dance as a starting point to tell the story of a courageous journey in search of self-identity and gender identity. The dance becomes a way for the protagonist to break away from the fetters and express her inner truth, which also symbolizes the desire of the sexual minority for freedom. The film is the opening film of the 34th Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Director Bian Shengbin emphasizes, “My life is only what I have experienced, and the feelings and thoughts that are presented in the film are my own colors.

The beautiful summer

Date：11/19

The beautiful summer is adapted from the famous book by Italian author Cesare Pavese. Starring Monica Bellucci's daughter, Diva Cassel, the movie tells the story of Ginny, a teenage seamstress, and her encounter with a nude model in the Bohemian art scene, which brings about love and self-discovery. The movie presents the emotional ecstasy and contradictions of adolescence, showing the courage and freedom of growing up through subtle female bonding and bold homosexual intimacy. According to director Laura Lucchetti, this is the story of a girl and her body, her existence, and her desire to love, capturing the freedom of choice and the vitality of life in the moment of growth.

Ariel

Date：11/26

Based on the events of Argentina's Grandmother of the Plaza de Mayo, DANCE OF LIFE tells the story of a Canadian brother and sister who return to their birthplace of Argentina as adults to learn the tango dance and unravel the traumatic memories of their baby and mother, who disappeared during the political upheaval of the 80's. The film blends gorgeous tango scenes with a profound narrative that weaves together identity, history and politics. The movie combines gorgeous tango scenes with a profound narrative that shows the intertwining of identity, history and politics. The actors play complex roles, full of contradictions and human brilliance. The story moves between the past and the present, culminating in a reconciliation of emotions and freedom. Recommended for those who love art, history and romance, this is a feast for the eyes and the soul.

Living in Two Worlds

Date：12/3

Shortlisted for Best Film at the Japan Newspaper Film Awards, “The Sun Only Shines Here” is adapted from the autobiographical essay by author Igarashi Arashi Dai, directed by Miho Oh and starring Ryo Yoshizawa from “The King's World”. The story depicts a young CODA man who grows up in a deaf family, struggling to grow up in a different world. As an adult, he leaves home and goes to Tokyo, where he comes into contact with more hearing-impaired friends and learns to understand his mother's deep love again. Returning to his hometown, he finally realizes the true meaning of “home” and love. The film is a tender and heartfelt one, dedicated to every child who is searching for self and belonging between two worlds.

Foreign Language

Date：12/10

An introverted French girl, Fanny, travels to Germany to participate in an exchange program and stays at the home of her aloof pen pal, Rena. In the midst of a language barrier, feelings begin to blossom. When Lena returns to France, she realizes that Fanny's secret is not pure, and that she is already deeply in love. Director Claire Berg's delicate portrayal of a young girl's love and confusion, through the intertwining of youth and politics, family and identity, draws out the true voices of the young generation in contemporary Europe.

Do Unto Others

Date：12/24

When a murder occurs in a long-term care center, a kind nurse becomes the prime suspect. When the truth is revealed, it leads to more unnatural deaths and difficult social truths. Adapted from the novel by Shinaka Ip, this is an intense debate between Kenichi Matsuyama and Masami Nagasawa about justice and empathy, and a profound interrogation of euthanasia, the long term care system, and the boundaries of human nature.

Miss Boots

Date：12/25

When the world tries to define what a woman looks like, we choose to speak through images. Every girl is a unique light, whether she is soft, stubborn, or struggling and exploring, she deserves to be seen and heard. This exhibition selects a number of works from women's perspectives, presenting multiple identities, emotions and life journeys, inviting you to irrigate your favorite seeds in the light and shadow, and appreciate every true and brilliant bloom.

Library Service Poding Movie Festival

Poding Movie Festival

Poding Movie Festival Schedule on 1st Semester of 2025