HAC Minister Yiong Con-ziin stated that HAC is dedicated to helping the Hakka language, culture, and industries go mainstream in Taiwan. The Photo from 1977 tells a love story between a Taiwanese and a Korean, yet is is set in 1977, amidst the oppression of the White Terror period. That same year, the Zhongli Incident took place: a political protest occurred in Zhongli after ballot rigging was reported several times in a local election. The event had a far-reaching influence on Taiwanese politics. This film hopes to show viewers how people pursued freedom, love, and happiness in such tumultuous times.
A Korean character was included in the story to attract a wider audience with a Korea-Taiwan young romance. It is also hoped that this will help the movie enter the Korean film market.
The cultural soft power of Hakka TV shows and films can transcend borders. Minister Yiong didn't fail to mention a post by Japanese painter Yoshitomo Nara, where he shared photos from the TV series Gold Leaf alongside limited edition Gold Leaf tea utensils gifted by HAC. This tweet declaring such fondness of the show demonstrates that moving works can enjoy popularity beyond Taiwan.
A collaboration between HAC, Greener Grass Production, and Taiwan's Public Television Service (PTS), Gold Leaf was launched in 2021 and successfully promoted Hakka culture with painstaking attention to detail from scriptwriting to visual effects. The Photo from 1977 aims to be a successor of Gold Leaf, HAC said. The first Hakka film ever made, it seeks to catapult Taiwan into the global radar once again. New Taiwan-made films with high-quality content promise to showcase the beauty of Hakka culture worldwide.
Yoshitomo Nara declares his love for Gold Leaf in the following post:
https://reurl.cc/QXdkMo
https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1661650187394375680?s=53&t=DtweXO2U5_qmwIDFClEKnQ
https://twitter.com/michinara3/status/1661645911821537280?s=53&t=DtweXO2U5_qmwIDFClEKnQ
