The Weight Of Memories

How does a piece of sugar taste of history?⁣ A century ago, in Erlin, a land susceptible to winds and floods, the Erlin Sugarcane Farmers' Association was born. It was Taiwan's first modern organization to advocate for farmers. They held lectures and established rural schools, but ultimately faced imprisonment.⁣ A century later, many have forgotten this history. On the crimson monument at the site of the incident, only the faded inscription "Erlin Sugarcane Farmers" is visible, reflecting against distant chimneys.⁣ What kind of future awaits Erlin's rural villages? Looking back at history, what can we learn?⁣ "Before Crystallization" tells the story of how people were treated before sugarcane became a symbol of sweetness.⁣ "Before Crystallization" discusses what efforts we still need to make before memory becomes a collective identity.⁣ Let the Erlin Sugarcane Farmers' Association lead the way, as we travel through time together and begin a century of reflection.⁣

Director

Tsao Chun-wei