Showing posts with label #TaiwaneseCinema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #TaiwaneseCinema. Show all posts

How Taiwan Became the Republic of Chips

 How did Taiwan go from a largely agricultural, labour-intensive economy with little semiconductor expertise to becoming one of the most important centres of chip manufacturing in the world?

That is the remarkable story explored in A Chip Odyssey, the documentary directed by Hsiao Chu-Chen.

Made over five years and featuring more than 80 interviews with people who witnessed and helped shape Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, the film traces Taiwan’s extraordinary journey — from the pioneering engineers sent overseas to acquire vital skills and knowledge, to the development of a world-leading semiconductor industry and the emergence of TSMC, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

But A Chip Odyssey is about more than technology and economics. It is also a story about people, ambition, sacrifice and the transformation of Taiwan itself — and how the semiconductor industry became intertwined with Taiwan’s economic development, international position and security.

In this episode of Perspectives with Neilo, I take you to Dublin’s Savoy Cinema, where A Chip Odyssey was screened as part of Culture Night 2026.

I spoke with Evan Furlong of the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese, Richard Casey, CEO of Primesel, Senator Gerard Craughwell, and Mark and Aoife Kelly, co-founders of Celtonn.

They share their impressions of Taiwan, their thoughts on the island’s remarkable semiconductor industry, and what they took away from A Chip Odyssey.

Their perspectives provide a fascinating look at how Taiwan’s semiconductor story is understood from Ireland — from those involved in organising the screening, to people working in technology and business, and an Irish political perspective.

From the pioneering engineers of the 1970s to TSMC and today’s global semiconductor race, this is the story of how Taiwan became the Republic of Chips — and why that story matters far beyond Taiwan.

Perspectives with Neilo — going beyond the headlines to examine how history, foreign influence and competing narratives shape modern democracies.


Date of Recording: September 18th, 2026


Centre image courtesy of TSMC 2020 Business Overview



DIVE DEEPER

Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:

  • View A Chip Odyssey on YouTube - here


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Intro music: Limitless Expanse Returns by Waveloom via Pixabay

A Foggy Tale - Taiwanese Cinema Comes to Ireland

In this episode, we explore A Foggy Tale ( 大濛 ), the acclaimed Taiwanese historical drama directed by Chen Yu-hsun, which recently received its Irish premiere at Dublin’s Savoy Cinema.

Set during Taiwan’s White Terror era in the 1950s, A Foggy Tale follows a young girl searching for the truth surrounding her brother’s execution during a time of martial law and political repression. Through striking cinematography, powerful performances, and an authentic atmosphere, the film captures both the fear and the humanity that endured during one of the most turbulent periods in Taiwanese history.

The screening was hosted by the Dublin School of Mandarin Chinese as part of Taiwan’s new “Europe-Taiwan Cultural Year” initiative, launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to share Taiwanese culture and creativity across Europe. With a packed programme of cultural events planned in the months ahead, we also look at what audiences in Ireland can expect next (listen until the end of the episode or see list below).

After attending the Dublin premiere on May 9th, I sat down with Dr. George Hong, a Taiwanese resident of Ireland, to discuss the historical background of the film, the meaning of the White Terror period, the evolution of Taiwanese identity, and why Taiwan’s past continues to resonate so strongly today.

This episode explores Taiwanese cinema, Taiwan history, cultural identity, political memory, and the growing cultural connection between Taiwan and Ireland.

Date of Recording: May 9th, 2026.



A Foggy Tale premiered in Ireland at Dublin's Savoy Cinema on May 9th
Insert photo: Dr. George Hong and Neil O'Sullivan.


DIVE DEEPER

Additional information on the topics covered in this episode:

A Foggy Tale


Europe-Taiwan Culture Year - Events in Ireland

  • Fragments of Becoming - exhibition by Yuan-Wen Wang at Dance Cork Firkin Crane, opens May 6th and runs to June 27th, 2026.
  • Dragon Boat Festival event, Greystones, June 20th - FB, @twirlassoc
  • Taiwanese Choir Performance, August (more later)
  • A Chip Odyssey ( 造山者 ) - feature length documentary (trailer) screening as part of Culture Night in September.


Other topics



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Audio Credit: excerpt from A Foggy Tale movie trailer 

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