shonenko-En

Director Liang-Yin Kuo

Narrator Giong Lim

Genre Documentary

Synopsis
In 1943, the Imperial Japanese government announced a work-study program in its colony, Taiwan, to gather children to work in military factories. 8,419 boys came to Japan. An one-hour documentary, Shonenko reveals the unknown stories of these child laborers (in Japanese, "Shonenko"), from 12 to 14-years-old, who manufactured fighter planes in the Japanese Naval Arsenals during the Second World War. They left their families, homelands and childhood with the dream of receiving education and a promising future. But their dream was to be shattered – first by the war and again by the cruel post-war politics in Taiwan, Japan and China.

Awards/Honors
2008 30th Golden Harvest Award, Government Information Bureau, Taiwan. Nominated for Best Documentary Award.
2007 4th History Documentary Film Festival, Taiwan. Best Documentary Award.
2006 8th International Taipei Film Festival, Taiwan Jury's Special Mentions Award.
2006 6th South Film Festival, Taiwan. Best Documentary Award.
2006 5th Taiwan International Documentary Festival, Taiwan. International Documentary in Competition.
2006 Women Make Waves Film and Video Film Festival, Taipei, Taiwan, Official Selection.

Official Website www.shonenko.com