SCFF 2025 Film Review: POETRIES FROM THE BOOKSTORES: SEASON 3

“More than a bookstore, it’s a story.”
An Interview with  Director HOU Chi-Jan on Poetries From the Bookstores: Season 3
by Alex Wu

An interview with the Director

After filming independent bookstores for over ten years, what keeps you returning to this subject?

HOU Chi-Jan: In Taiwan, with the rise of the internet and globalization, bookstores have been vanishing. Physical book sales are dropping, and many stores are closing down. To me, physical books hold a very special status, it’s something I can touch, smell, and hold. That’s irreplaceable. I want to document this era through the lens of bookstores, to preserve not just what is being lost, but also what is still alive.

What do you hope to share to the audience through this work?

HOU Chi-Jan: I’ve come to realize I’m not just filming bookstores. I’m filming ways of life. Every bookstore reflects the worldview of its owner, and by extension, a piece of our cultural memory. I hope the audience feels that this is more than a space. It’s a story about time, values, and community.

Was there anything during filming that left a deep impression on you?

HOU Chi-Jan: We’ve visited over a hundred bookstores since season one. Each one is different. What I find most touching are the subtle human interactions. Because we don’t set up a structure or script to follow, but adapt to each store’s atmosphere and owner’s preferences. That’s how we capture the soul of each space naturally.

(Same as the author, the director also graduated from NCCU)

Is there a particular bookstore that stood out to you?

HOU Chi-Jan: There’s one I still think about often, Song Ling Bookstore in Taipei. It’s a place I frequented in my youth. After a fire damaged it, the owner chose to stay and preserve the site. One wall is now covered in scorched, half-burnt books. It’s haunting, but also beautiful. Those books, half-destroyed, tell a story of survival.

What do you hope viewers will take away from this season?

HOU Chi-Jan: I think about it like this that in the digital age, old things can have new meanings. For example, vinyl records are back on the market. People want to feel, to hold, to collect. I believe film is the same. We’re capturing something that might fade, but also something that might return in a new way.

You also write screenplays and direct feature films and music videos. Which medium do you enjoy most?

HOU Chi-Jan: I still enjoy directing films the most. Cinema offers a unique perspective. It’s direct, it’s immersive, it’s open. A thousand people can interpret the same story in a thousand ways. That’s the charm of it. I love seeing how the audience responds to the same scene differently.

Any advice for young filmmakers today?

HOU Chi-Jan: Practice, that’s the key to it. The tools are very accessible now like phones, cameras, editing software. But standing out is harder than ever. So try to film things around you and tell the story only you can tell. That’s what will make your work resonate with the audience.

Any upcoming projects you can share?

HOU Chi-Jan: I’m working on a few historical drama projects at the moment. They’re still in early stages, but I’m excited to dive into stories that reflect broader societal change.

Poetries From the Bookstores: Season 3 reminds us that bookstores are more than retail spaces. They are reflections of belief, memory, and resilience. Don’t miss the chance to experience this poetic journey on screen—only at the Singapore Chinese Film Festival. For the full schedule and tickets, visit www.scff.sg.

------------------------

About the author: Alex Wu is a storyteller and a master’s student in the Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT) program at National Chengchi University (NCCU). With a passion for bridging cultures and media, Alex is deeply engaged in cross-cultural communication—both through academic research and hands-on work with the Singapore Film Society. He uses storytelling to explore the intersection of technology, media, and global narratives, with a body of work spanning writing, audiovisual content, and creative media. At the heart of it all, Alex tells stories that highlight meaningful connections across languages and cultures—rooted in Taiwan, and always eyeing the world.

Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex--wu/