Coming soon to Bay Area venues is Taiwan’s official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2013 Academy Awards, Touch of the Light (Ni Guang Fei Xiang). This film is based on the life of Taiwanese child prodigy Huang Yu-siang, a pianist who is blind. More amazingly, Huang plays himself in this beautifully produced movie. Touch of the Light is so popular that it is being screened in three locations this fall. This Saturday (9/28) at the Wine Country Film Festival in Kenwood and then at Antioch’s El Campanil Theatre and Orinda Theatre in October.
Born to a rural family in Taiwan unprepared for the birth of a blind son, Huang was a curious and precocious child. With the love of his mother and support of his family, he grew up with few barriers. Difficulties come when he leaves home to attend university. There he competes with sighted students and learn to find his footing in his new environment. He soon crosses path with Jie (Chang Rong-rong), a beautiful but frustrated cold drinks vendor who dreams of being a dancer, but feels helpless when faced with the realities of life. She draws inspiration from Huang’s fearless determination, optimism and inner peace, to hold on to her dream.
The movie is part of the 27th Wine Country Film Festival taking place at the Deerfield Ranch Winery (10200 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood). It is scheduled to screen in the cave on Saturday, September 28 at 8pm. Be sure to arrive early to enjoy the special cuisine, live performance by San Francisco Guzheng Music Society, sword dance by Kung Fu Master Justin Eggert and an interactive Tai Chi experience starting at 7. Tickets may be purchased by visiting
http://wcff.us/2013/films/touch-of-the-light/
The movie will also be showing at part of the International Showcase on Friday, October 18 and Sunday, October 20 at the El Campanil Theatre (602 W. 2nd Street, Antioch) at 7:30pm and 2pm respectively. You can find more information on the theatre’s website. http://www.elcampaniltheatre.com/. Touch of the Light will also begin a one week run starting October 18 at the Orinda Theatre (4 Orinda Theater Square, Orinda) with four screenings scheduled during the weekends and three during the weekdays. For specific times, please visit http://lamorindatheatres.com/index_orinda.asp.
For a trailer of the film, please visit: www.internationalshowcase.org.