Farewell Party

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“Lifeng Coal Mine” (利豐煤礦) in Sanxia, Taipei County, was once Taiwan’s largest specialized coal mine. Unable to compete with cheap imported coal amid Taiwan’s impending WTO accession, the mine shut down, leaving 118 miners unemployed and sparking disputes over pensions and severance pay. San Yan (《散宴》) follows several aging miners, including brothers Huang Wu-yi (黃武義) and Huang Rong-quan (黃榮全), documenting their reflections on unemployment and their lifelong labor underground. After sharing one final farewell banquet, the miners’ “black gold dream” disappeared together with the closing mine. Through the film, the director moves beyond stereotypical images of miners’ hardship, portraying instead the quiet resilience and optimism of these “last-generation miners.”