Los Angeles: Taiwanese-American director Vicky Du has been awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 San Diego Asian Film Festival for her documentary “Light of the Setting Sun.” The film, which runs for 73 minutes, explores the intergenerational trauma within her family, tracing the cycles of violence that have persisted since the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949.

According to Focus Taiwan, Du expressed her desire to unravel her family’s history, motivated by the lack of discussion surrounding the difficult periods they endured. To piece together these narratives, she gathered archival materials and connected with family members she had never met before, leading her to travel to Taipei, Dongguan City in China, Toronto, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.

During the award ceremony in California, Du shared her intention to capture the memories of her family’s elders while they remain healthy. She aimed to reflect on the challenging past, as noted in a press statement issued by the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Ec
onomic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles. The program note highlighted that Du’s documentary does not present a straightforward story of forgiveness or reconciliation but rather delves into the commitment to face suffering that often seems unspeakable.

Du, who holds an undergraduate degree in Biology of the Human Species from Columbia University’s Department of Evolutionary Biology, is currently based in Berlin. “Light of the Setting Sun” marks her first feature-length documentary. Her previous works include short films produced for National Geographic and The New York Times.