The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States is pleased to present a series of four contemporary Taiwan films, in cooperation with the Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood branch of the DC Public Library. During the month of May, visitors are invited to learn more about Taiwan through an accompanying exhibition at the library and by attending presentations by scholars on Chinese and Taiwanese cinema.

No Puedo Vivir Sin Ti (Cannot Live Without You) (2009; 92 min.)
with special guest presenter Professor Eileen Chow of Duke University
May 7, Monday @ 6:30pm
In this award-winning tragic drama (including the Grand Prize for Best Narrative Feature at the 2009 Taipei Film Festival), Wu-Hsiung Li and his newborn daughter are abandoned by the child's mother. The man and his daughter form a close and loving bond. But seven years later, the mother has married somebody else – which, according to the law, means that the Wu-Hsiung must give up his daughter.

Guest speaker Eileen Chow will publish a manuscript on Chinese cinema next year and currently teaches Chinese and other Asian cultures at Duke University.

Orz Boyz (2008; 104 min.)
May 9, Wednesday @ 3:30pm
“Liar Number One” and “Liar Number Two” are a mischievous pair of young boys who cause all kinds of trouble at school. The duo plan to escape the real world through a portal in a water-slide and enter the world “OZ”, creating a colorful and humorous cinematic experience.

Blue Brave: the Legend of Formosa in 1895 (2008; 105 min.)
May 14, Monday @ 6:30pm
After losing the Sino-Japanese war of 1894, the island of Taiwan was ceded to Japan by the Qing Dynasty of China. However, the Hakka people who lived on Taiwan resolved to resist the Japanese army. Blue Brave is based on this historical guerrilla war and remembers the trials and horrors of one of Taiwan's most challenging conflicts.

Cape No. 7 (2008; 100 min.)
May 16, Wednesday @ 6:30pm
with special guest presenter Professor Carma Hinton of George Mason University
Cape No. 7 was a pop cultural sensation and one of the biggest box-office hits in Mandarin Chinese-language film when it was released in 2008. This love story transcends time and links the way of life in today's Taiwan to the country's history.

Guest speaker Carma Hinton is a scholar and an award-winning filmmaker who was born and raised in China. She is currently the Robinson Professor at George Mason University.

Venue: Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library
4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
(Use the Tenleytown-AU Metro Station on the Red Line)
This event is free and open to the public.

For more information about the Taiwan Film Festival, please contact John Chu by phone at (202) 895-1853 or Maggie Chin by phone at (202) 895-1850.