Screening
Asian New Force Category Finalist
When the Cold Wind Blows
Chiang Wei-liang / Singapore
Col / 20' 00'' / In Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles
On their last night together, a young couple takes a walk through the streets of Taipei.
Artist's Statement
Singapore is the only country with military bases located in Taiwan. The relationship between the two countries goes way back to the city-state’s early days of independence, where the Taiwanese helped built its army and is largely symbolized by the military co-operation between the two countries, under a classified program known as Operation Starlight.
With Singapore adopting the One-China policy, its relations with Taiwan have become a difficult balancing act. When in Taiwan, Singaporean troops do not train in their own uniform but wear those of their Taiwanese counterparts. The operation is a military secret; openly discussed in Taiwanese media yet remains a topic less spoken about in Singapore. Perhaps after four decades, Operation Starlight may have run its course. Yet it does not appear in any works of fiction or records. As a young Singaporean living in Taiwan, the film serves as political commentary to an oft-overlooked dynamic of the relationship between these two countries that I have come to love and call my own. In a way, I hope to challenge the censorship in my country by portraying a Singaporean soldier in Taiwan.
