Light of the Setting Sun
A heartfelt exploration of the multigenerational trauma that has dogged a large Chinese family across time and borders.
Filmmaker Vicky Du investigates the multigenerational trauma that has haunted her family since the Chinese Communist Revolution drove her grandparents from their home in 1949. Motivated by a familial suicide attempt, Du traces instances of mental illness across four generations as the family has spread from the East to the West. Roving between Taipei, Taiwan, and New Jersey, Du offers an unflinching glimpse of the wounds time and refuge won't heal. In addition to exploring identity and gender roles within Chinese culture, she asks the question: Does family history ensure a fixed path in life, or can future generations be free from the past?