Written by Jennifer J. Lau
Photography Courtesy of Tiffany Hsiung

The synopsis: Ru-Wen was separated from her parents at the age of five. Forty years later she is still unable to connect the fragmented pieces of her childhood, until her daughter Tiffany sets off to Taiwan to look for answers. Filmed over 14 years, ‘Sing Me a Lullaby’ is a story about recovering familial history, healing inherited pain, and understanding that love comes in many forms. 

Hsiung shares with Fête Chinoise that the hardest part about making such a personal documentary is having to face difficult moments and content, and then delve deep into it and break it down. “It took me over 10 years to look at all the material that I shoot. I absolutely hated watching 21 year-old Tiffany, but eventually I made peace with her when I realized that there are many things I couldn’t do today that 21 year-old Tiffany could … And it’s important to acknowledge our past and to accept the stages that we go through to get to where we are today.”

This film takes you on an emotional journey, and here are three reasons why we think you must watch this documentary.

Hsiung has magically weaved together the story of her mother who was separated from her own parents in 1965 and her story as a Canadian-born in search for a piece of lost history. While many of us in the second-generation may not know the complexities of Asian history, this film gives you the perspective from Taiwan in the 1960s to the present day.

Hsiung also shares her hope for the film: “In a time where we are revisiting the very foundations of our human existence, my hope is that Sing Me a Lullaby sparks a curiosity for viewers to connect with their own lineage. To see ourselves as part of a longer story arc, to know that we are part of something bigger and to find lessons, in the lives that have come before us.”

Tiffany bravely approaches the task of going to Taipei speaking minimal Mandarin in order to help locate her grandmother and grandfather. In many ways, her attempts and patience to get her message across is heartwarming and encouraging for those of us who are also trying to bridge continents.

She shares with us: “As a Chinese Canadian born and raised in Toronto, I was constantly battling against my dual identity. Being raised in a Chinese household, I was naturally conditioned to behave and understand things in a certain way, however the moment I stepped outside and went to school it was a whole other world that conflicted with some of the principles I was raised with. Our film Sing Me a Lullaby, begins with that conflicting duality that propelled me to search for my mother’s biological parents despite no one wanting to talk about it.”

In the film, which was made over 14 years, viewers see the historical Taipei and the contemporary Taipei juxtaposed as the characters grow older and the city’s landscape changes alongside. You witness the technology that aids in the search of the director’s mission and also the night markets that Taiwan is so well-known for.

If you’re looking for a hopeful and authentic story about family, we highly recommend this piece. For those that missed the TIFF premiere screening we are excited to share that you can watch the film on CBC Gem starting Saturday September 20th, 2020, available in Canada only. Please stay tuned to other screenings around the world.

Twitter: @Hsiung.Tiffany
Instagram: @singmealullabyfilm
Facebook: facebook.com/SingMeaLullabyFilm