The first half takes us to the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT) and what some women go through when they apply for an American Visa. Women look directly at a mirror and perform monologues. The visa applications are rejected without any legitimate reason and the officers seem to have been curt and insensitive about the whole business. The camera is set over the shoulder and gives the impression of looking into someone’s lives without them noticing.

Empire’s Borders I is screening at Taiwan Film Festival UK

The second half is lined up with women from mainland China, who, one after the other, read out their experience of trying to get residency at the Taiwan Immigration service. Processes are tedious and waiting periods are long, and yet many endure for their own personal reasons.

There is no music involved. Women, black-and-white, sterile sets and lack of emotion is a unique potion. The narrations are objective and direct. In a way, the angst each of those women might have gone through is multiplied by the blank look on their faces. A very thought-provoking endeavour by Chen Chieh-Jen.

Strong empires guard their borders well, but very strong ones get other countries to guard it for them. And despite the popular notion, borders made by man seem stronger than the bonds of the heart.