Generally, documentaries will approach audiences with open arms and attempt to cater to the uninitiated concerning the specialist subject at hand. However, this is not the case for Chin-yuan Ke's 2019 documentary, “Sacred Forest”. Presenting a brief history of Taiwan's forests and delving into their distinct features, the hour-long study maintains a specialists focus, which garners mixed results.
“Sacred Forest” screened at Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh
To be clear, it is highly unlikely that you'll be watching “Sacred Forest” if you don't have an existing interest in either Taiwan's terrain and culture or forests in general. My knowledge is sorely limited in all of these areas, so Ke's documentary opened an entirely new world to me. Unfortunately, it's not the sort of world that's too accommodating if you don't have a pre-existing knowledge of the subject matter. Everyone in the project is clearly an expert in their field, and it can be challenging to keep up with their tree-related jargon.
The various experts that we follow discuss everything from the astounding size of certain trees, which are huge in all honesty, as well as the age of Taiwan's forests. We touch on where certain types of trees have come from and delve into how the changing landscape has continued to affect the forests. All of this information is presented with a clear passion for the subject matter, which shines through in the film's narration.
In and around the facts and explanations, there's a definite mystique to the forests that are explored. There are snippets in which our narrators will discuss the spiritual connection that the trees have to the land, with many of them being hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. The documentary takes an unexpected turn towards the philosophical in these brief moments, as questions arise concerning what these great natural objects must have witnessed in the time that they've been alive. The local affection for the forests, as noted throughout, no doubt comes from this greater appreciation for the spiritualism of the area.
“Sacred Forest” might be kinder to the general viewer if there was a more cinematic approach to the project. However, while showcasing some stunning views of the Taiwanese landscape, there's little in the way of variety. After a while, the sweeping shots of the albeit beautiful woodland become tiresome, leaving only the fact-heavy narration to latch onto.
The lack of variation in imagery does make more sense, though, when considering the intricate camera setups shown in the film. The wiry mechanisms that are put in place to raise the camera way above the treetops are extremely complex. Seeing the process behind putting these contraptions in place is one of the more interesting aspects of the film. In fact, it's quite daunting to see these tree enthusiasts dangling tens of metres in the air with very little support, all for the sake of capturing new imagery and carrying out studies.
For those with interest in cultural, topographical or forest history, “Sacred Forest” is sure to be an interesting watch. However, outside of this niche target audience, there's little to garner from Ke's documentary aside from the factual information presented.
It seems like you lack not only any “existing interest in either Taiwan’s terrain and culture or forests in general” but also the most basic knowledge of Chinese-language culture. How could you be a reviewer of Asian cinemas if you don’t even know that Ke, rather than Chin-yuan, is his last name?
It is corrected now