Events Calendar

Continuing its theme “Women in Asia: Traditions, Transformation, and Modernization,” as a part of Women’s History Month, The University of Scranton will show “Taste of Life 百" (2015, 105 min), a featured film in the 22^nd Women Make Waves Film Festival, Taiwan.  The screening, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Tuesday, March 29, at 7 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center.

The showing will be followed by a Q & A and a light reception with its award-winning director Ms. Yu-Shan Huang 黃玉珊, also free and open to the public.  The “director meets audience” Scranton event is a part of her U.S. film tour (2016 Taiwan Women’s Film Series), co-sponsored by the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Taiwan Ministry of Culture, the Asian Studies Department, the Department of Latin American and Women’s Studies, The English and Theatre Department, and the Cross Cultural Centers, at the University of Scranton.

“Taste of Life” tells the story about a modern Taiwanese woman, Fen-fang Liu, who after years of hard work prepares a feast for the opening of her own restaurant.  At this time, however, she also experiences the bitter truth of life when she hears the news of her husband’s affair.  Liu considers marriage her forever refuge.  What should she do?  Meanwhile, two of her restaurant’s most loyal customers, a mainlander military general and a local councilman, engage in fierce political rivalry.  The two adversaries eventually become in-laws due to a twist of fate. The multiple aspects of life are portrayed through dining.

Director Yu-shan Huang is a noted Chinese filmmaker from Penghu Island, Taiwan.  She received her Master of Art in Cinema Studies from New York University.  Well-known for her commitment to women’s issues, she was also a founder and co-founder of feminist networks and platforms, such as Taiwan’s Women Make Waves film festival and the South Taiwan film festival which features works of independent filmmakers from many countries. Huang became an internationally renowned director for her film “Twin Bracelets 《雙鐲》(1990).”  The film critiques the suppression of women.  Apart from working as an independent film director, she also teaches film-making at Tainan National University of the Arts in Tainan, Taiwan.

“Taste of Life” is the second of a three-part film series during the spring semester under the theme “Women in Asia: Traditions, Transformation, and Modernization.”  On Tuesday, April 19, “Seeking Asian Females” (2012), a PBS awarding-winning documentary by Debbie Lum, will be shown. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Meghan Ashlin Rich, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology/criminal justice and women’s studies at the University.

All films, which are shown free of charge and open to the public, will be screened at 7 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center.

For more information, contact Ann A. Pang-White, Ph.D., director of Asian studies, at ann.pang-white@scranton.edu or 570-941-7643.