On November 7, the Taipei mayoral candidate from Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, Shen Bo-yang, kicked off his campaign with a street sweeping event dubbed “Taipei Ocean Current.” This initiative took him through the Honghu area, where he was met with an enthusiastic crowd of supporters affectionately termed “little water droplets.” The occasion drew the attention of the famous award-winning director, Ke Yi-zheng, who was deeply moved by the large turnout, exclaiming, “This is true love!”
Ke Yi-zheng shared on his Facebook that he was dining with family at a restaurant on Jiangnan Street in Neihu when he began to follow the live stream of the campaign. While watching the updates, he couldn’t help but notice his friends and many people standing for hours at the street corner, holding signs and colorful ribbons.
Despite Shen Bo-yang’s vehicle passing by in just 20 seconds, the remarkable sense of unity displayed by the supporters compelled them to shout out their trust and enthusiasm. Some supporters even waited in areas around Dahua Park for five to six hours, creating a visible fervor. Ke Yi-zheng, overwhelmed by the experience, expressed, “I haven’t felt this way in a long time,” praising the atmosphere as “true love!”
During previous interviews about the election race, Ke Yi-zheng humorously mentioned that he watched political commentary shows every night, often finding them so entertaining that he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. When asked about Shen Bo-yang’s personal qualities, he quickly put aside the humor and praised him, noting, “He is very warm and brings warmth to everyone. I think we have been lacking in such qualities, and we should regard this phenomenon as a gift.”
It’s notable that when Ke Yi-zheng appeared in public, he was carrying his signature orange bag. Although there was no ribbon of Shen Bo-yang’s campaign attached to the strap, sharp-eyed media captured him sporting pins that cleverly referenced Shen’s English name “Puma.” When spotted, he proudly showcased the pins and joked, “I’m very low-key,” demonstrating his support for Shen in a unique and thoughtful manner.
At the age of 77, Ke Yi-zheng stands as a pioneering director of Taiwan’s New Cinema movement and a certified veteran actor, renowned for his accomplishments in both directing and acting. He directed the significant film “The Story of Time” and won the Golden Bell Award for Best Director for “The Girl from the South.” As an actor, he has starred in or made cameo appearances in classic films by esteemed directors such as Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and Ang Lee, including “The Spinning Wheel” (1983), “Youth” (1985), “The Super Citizen” (1995), and “Life of Pi” (2012). His career spans across both film and stage production, earning him awards including the Golden Plum Award for Best Actor and multiple nominations for Best Lead Actor and Supporting Actor at the Golden Bell Awards.
Furthermore, he co-founded the Green Light Theatre and Paper Windmill Theatre, receiving the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Taipei Film Festival. His artistic journey can be described as “holding a director’s blade in one hand while performing a hundred different roles,” with his work having a profound impact on Taiwan’s film and cultural landscape.
Shen Bo-yang’s campaign in the Honghu area not only attracted cultural figures like Ke Yi-zheng but also received support from heavyweight personalities such as Vice President Tsai Mei-chin and Olympic badminton champion Lee Yang. Their presence undoubtedly heated up the race for the mayoralty in Taipei as the multi-party elections approach.