Challenges of cross-cultural marriages are often hard to imagine. In Taiwan's Hakka communities, there is a group of new immigrant women from Southeast Asia who married Hakka men and chose to settle down and contribute to their communities as "Hakka wives." They diligently learn the Hakka language, integrate into their families, and participate in community building. The documentary film "Falling into the Soil" focuses on their life stories.
"Falling into the Soil" features three new immigrant women as the protagonists, meticulously depicting their journey of integration into Hakka society. One of the film's protagonists, Yang Xuexia, from Indonesian Kalimantan, married into a Haka family in Hualien's Fenglin area around 1997 and has lived there with the local Hakka community. Coincidentally, she speaks a Taiwanese Hakka dialect, which provided a foundation for her integration into the local culture.
The documentary showcases her transformation from an initial participant to an association officer and community activity organizer. Her growth trajectory also symbolizes the process of new immigrants gradually establishing themselves and exerting influence in Taiwan.
Xuexia once said, "Actually, there is nothing that can't be learned, only things that one doesn't want to do." This statement has become the driving force behind her community involvement. She actively participated in the work of the Niu Li Community Association and, together with the executive secretary You Yafa, promoted activities using patchwork handmade storybooks to encourage new immigrants to document their life journeys.
The Hakka community in Fenglin Township has faced population aging issues in recent years. Xuexia hopes to contribute to the local elderly through community actions. Her story is a microcosm of what contemporary Hakka society needs to consider: how to embrace diverse cultures and create a shared and harmonious new community.
The "Falling into the Soil" documentary will soon hold post-screening discussions. We sincerely invite people concerned with women's issues, new immigrant lives, and Hakka culture to register for participation. Through authentic documentation, let's witness how women from foreign lands, with resilience and gentleness, take root in a new place and bloom with vibrant lives.
The Hakka Development Center's "Falling into the Soil" documentary post-screening discussion is open to all. Please click the registration link below 👇👇 to register quickly!
- Registration Link: https://gov.tw/mzy
- Four-minute version: https://thcdc.hakka.gov.tw/84773/84782/142531/
This event offers learning certification for civil servants.
First Session - Liouqiu Session
- Date: June 3rd (Sat)
- Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- Location: Liouqiu Hakka Culture Park/Conference Hall (No. 588, Xinyi Road, Nenpu Township, Pingtung County)
Second Session - Miaoli Session
- Date: June 17th (Sat)
- Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
- Location: Taiwan Hakka Culture Center/Presentation Room (No. 6, Tongke South Road, Tongluo Township, Miaoli County)
For registration and discussion-related questions, please contact 08-7230100 ext. 204, Mr. Dai.
Poster for the post-screening discussions of the documentary "When the Mud Falls" on May 3 and May 17, 2025 (Image: Screenshot from Liudui Hakka Cultural Park Facebook page)
