Tuesday, October 17, 2006

ANNUAL FILM FESTIVAL REFLECTS ON MEANING OF PEACE

Taipei, Oct. 14 (CNA) An annual film festival featuring movies that talk about peace-related subjects can help Taiwanese look at other parts of the world and reflect on the true meaning of peace, organizers said Saturday.

The 2006 Peace Movie Festival will screen 14 foreign and domestic films and documentaries in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung and Kaohsiung from Oct. 14 to Nov. 19. The opening film -- a Norwegian movie title "Gervenkt" -- premiered Saturday in Taipei.

Movies selected in this year's festival feature peace-related issues from countries such as Norway, Sweden, Serbia, Hungary and the Baltic countries, said Chien Hsi-chieh, chief executive officer of the Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan, the festival organizer.

"I think the Taiwan people can learn a lot from these films. As the debate on independence and reunification is going on around Taiwan, we should ask ourselves whether there is a third option, " Chien said.

"Everyone has a different definition of peace. However, the foundation of peace lies in understanding the differences [of both parties], " he said, adding that the timing of the festival couldn't be better as the mass rally against President Chen recently halted after more than a month.

"The highest realm of culture is that a person understands how to reconcile with himself, others and nature harmoniously. Peace can be a hard lesson to learn. It is going to take time and wisdom, " said Sebastian Liao, commissioner of the Taipei City government's Department of Cultural Affairs.

Among the films being shown at the festival are some well-known movies that created an international buzz in recent years, such as "Hotel Rwanda" and "Goodbye, Lenin."

Entry to all the movies is free but limited based on seating capacity, organizers said.