Island In Between: belonging and identity in Kinmen ft. S. Leo Chiang

On today’s episode, we have a very exciting guest, Taiwanese filmmaker Leo Chiang, whose latest short film “Island In Between” has been nominated for an Oscar. His documentary, which centers around Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, gives a glimpse into the nuanced experience of those living in Kinmen and their relationship with China. Leo, who moved to the US when he was fifteen years old, shares his own experience of navigating China, Taiwan, and U.S. government narratives, and how, like those in Kinmen, he is still grappling with questions of identity and belonging. 

In this episode we delve deep into “Island in Between” and Kinmen’s unique history. We discuss Leo’s approach to the project, how those in Kinmen and the rest of Taiwan feel about the possibility of war, and how using English terms to describe identity in this situation can be limiting.

You can watch Leo's documentary on YouTube here.