Renowned director Shen Keshang spent five years creating the documentary “Guest Host,” which features nine groups of well-known musicians. Through carefully arranged storytelling and classic songs, the film tells the story of the Hakka people in Taiwan over the past 300 years – where they came from, why they came, and the profound stories of survival, identity shifts, and self-awareness.
Director Shen Keshang expressed, “Filming ‘Guest Host’ has been a five-year journey to reexamine the interrelationships among Taiwan’s ethnic groups. It also serves as a creative challenge in exploring a new format for historical documentary films.”
The documentary features nine groups of prominent musicians serving as the leading storytellers, including: Peng Jiahui, Xie Yuwei, Luo Sirong, Zhong Yongfeng, Luo Wenyu, Huang Zixuan, Lin Shengxiang, Chun Mian Band, and Yan Zhiwen. Each group of musicians shares compelling stories and reinterprets classic songs, guiding viewers to resonate with “Guest Host” through the musicians’ introductions and performances.
Director Shen Keshang discussed the core significance he hopes to convey through the documentary: “‘How do we grasp our language, culture, and ethnic values while living on our homeland?’ is a perennial issue. The experience of the Hakka people in Taiwan reminds us to contemplate the ideal of mutual respect for diverse cultures – a long, challenging, and ongoing endeavor. Are we each truly worthy ‘hosts’ in this world?”
In addition, renowned Taiwanese comic artist Zhuang Yongxin designed the poster for the documentary “Guest Host.” Through a variety of characters with determined expressions and unified perspectives, the poster captures an atmosphere of unity and courage, aligning with the film’s core spirit and theme.