The short film Mamu, directed by Aephie Chen, was successfully screened at the French Library of Alliance Française in Dublin on January 27, 2025. The director attended the event in person and participated in a thought-provoking discussion with the audience after the screening. The event was sponsored by Chairperson Yu-Chia Lee and Board Member Evan Furlong of the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese, the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland (TRO).
Mamu, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in London, tells the moving story of a Taiwanese indigenous family’s migration journey, exploring their deep longing for home and emotional ties. The film delves into themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and the enduring connection to one's heritage, offering a moving portrayal of the experiences of Taiwanese people living abroad. In addition to the Dublin screening, Mamu has garnered international recognition, including a nomination for Best Short Film at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), where it was selected from thousands of submissions.
During the event, Ambassador Dr. Pierre Yang of the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland shared his thoughts on the film’s powerful themes, stating:
"The short film “Mamu” by Aephie Chen made a deep and lasting impression on me regarding the theme of home. In the language of the Taiwanese Amis people, ‘mamu’ translates as grandmother which in the film refers to the motherland. Similarly, I find that Irish art and literature will often depict “woman-as-Nation” also. I believe that modern people are always searching for this ideal of home, yet they fail to recognise that it was always with them in their blood and culture."
Aephie Chen is an interdisciplinary artist-curator currently based in London, England, and Reykjavik, Iceland. In 2018, she founded the UK Taiwan Film Festival in the Nordic Region, an initiative dedicated to bringing Taiwanese cinema to European audiences. During the discussion, Chen shared her inspiration behind Mamu and offered insight into how the film explores identity through visual storytelling. The narrative follows Mayaw, a Taiwanese indigenous father, and his daughter as they navigate their cultural heritage and dreams in a foreign land.
The screening attracted a diverse audience, including members of the local Taiwanese community, Irish film enthusiasts, and cultural scholars. Attendees engaged in an insightful discussion with the director, exploring the film’s creative process and the challenges of cultural identity faced by those living far from home. The audience was deeply moved by the film's emotional depth and authenticity, which resonated with many who have experienced life away from their homeland.
