Director Wei Te-sheng gained attention with his low-budget box office smash Cape No.7, the biggest hit in the history of Taiwanese cinema. This unexpected success gave the filmmaker the opportunity to direct his dream project, on which he’s been working for more than 10 years, it’s Seediq Bale, and it’s produced by John Woo!
This big-budget film is set in 1930 in Taiwan (then Formosa), telling the revolt of Seediq tribespeople against the Japanese colonial troops and their policy considering Taiwan tribal natives as mere barbarians. An event best known as the Wushe Incident, which resulted in a massacre.
Seediq Bale looks like the Taiwanese epic version of The Last of the Mohicans. A quest about identity inviting the audience to rediscover the tale of an oppressed, misunderstood and forgotten people. With the director taking its time to tell this tragic event, one can hope there won’t be any Japanese bashing in here — not like most mainstream chinese productions.
This promising trailer highlights the very idea of epic, showing lots of action sequences, some set in the middle in the (gorgeous) taiwanese jungle. At some point it may almost feel like Avatar set on earth. Keep in mind, this is the most expensive film ever produced in Taiwan. As for John Woo’s involvement, his name isn’t just here to help the film gaining some visibility. Aaccording to the Guardian, he’s pretty much overseeing the “international cut” of the film — not the best news, remember Red Cliff‘s international version and how most of the best things in the film were cut out (so that westerners could understand the story, and the film be theatrically released).
The film will be 4-hour-long, and will come out in two parts in Taiwan. Part 1, subbed Flags Of The Sun will hit theaters on September 9, and part 2, Rainbow Bridge will come out September 20.
By the way, here’s the “test” trailer shot in 2006/2007, when the project was looking for funds;
Sources: Official website, YT Channel, @TheGoldenRock, Eigagogo
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