Formosa Betrayed

I saw this film at the St. Louis International Film Festival and could not have been more impressed. I left the theater with countless questions and consequently could not stop talking about US-Taiwan relations for weeks. I am sure this is what the filmmakers intended.

I find it shocking that I do not know a single person from my generation (even among student peers who claim to be more passionate about foreign affairs than the average American) who has even heard of the name "Formosa"—not to mention that China currently has hundreds of missiles pointed at the island from its side of the Taiwan Strait, or that the U.S. has promised to unconditionally defend Taiwan in any situation of armed attack. I therefore feel certain the majority of Americans will relate perfectly to James Van Der Beek's character, Agent Kelly, who also knows absolutely nothing about the subject matter.

Agent Kelly receives a brutal reality check in Taipei, and so will American audiences when they see this film. I am sure my peers will leave the theater just as eager to ask questions and to learn more about Taiwan as I was. The filmmakers do not seek to teach a perfect history lesson through documentary but rather to tell a dramatic story that will catch Americans' attention, inspire dialogue, and encourage them to better educate themselves on this important issue. In this regard, James Van Der Beek, Will Tiao and Wendy Crewson's performances are all highly effective. The nonlinear narrative furthermore forces audiences to more actively engage themselves with the film and accordingly with the larger issues presented. Overall, I would call "Formosa Betrayed" a huge success.

Its not hard to understand why some people took the movie as offensive. Although not a documentary, the movie has events that actually occurred in Taiwan's recent history. Those brought up under KMT's propaganda can't believe such capable government can do such nasty things behind people's back. :D

There are so basic facts about the movie.

1. Not a documentary: Inspired by actual events, but not actual events. 2. For non-Taiwanese audiences: Or those not-familiar with Taiwan and her background. This "Free China" was backed by the US to fight communists but at the expense of severely restricting human rights in Taiwan. 3. Not actual scenes: Unfortunately, due to funding and the political situation in Taiwan, the set needs to be filmed elsewhere than Taiwan.

This movie is a must-see for those who wants to know more about Taiwan and even for those who knows nothing about Taiwan and wants to know the island that makes everything in the 70s and 80s. People who calls it a propaganda is probably afraid of viewers will become interested and search for more info on the background of Taiwan, especially those times under the rule of KMT. Human rights and justice are universal common values, however, the Taiwanese people was not able to enjoy such.

When I saw a small advertising in my local paper for this movie, I had no idea what it was about. I thought it might be a documentary on Formosa before it became Taiwan. How wrong I was! I was totally blown away by its contents, the actors, and the cinematography. I had little knowledge of Taiwan's history prior to seeing this film. It was a real eye opener. I also didn't recognize most of the actors, except for John Heard. James Van Der Beek did an excellent job as the FBI agent Jake Kelly. I am really surprised that the film was shown in San Jose (CA) at all because it seems most viewers have seen 'Formosa Betrayed' at film festivals. This movie should get a wider distribution since, in my opinion, it is very important to let everyone know what happened. An absolute MUST-SEE!

I managed to see Formosa Betrayed at a film festival and was really blown away. Political suspense films rarely grip you this much while still holding onto their intelligence. Wherever you are you must try to get to a theater to see this or anticipate the DVD release because it is not one to miss. Many political thrillers get bogged down in technicalities or are just idiotic in their execution, but Formosa Betrayed hits every right note. I was skeptical too when I saw James Van Der Beek was the star, but he truly rises to the occasion. Will Tiao also amazed me despite the fact that he is essentially unknown. Formosa Betrayed takes you through a whirlwind of action, suspense, and the fight for justice. Get out to the theaters on February 26th to see it; you won't regret it!

I didn't know what to expect with this film. Murder-mysteries are not generally my thing, but this one pulled it off with a truly insightful look into Taiwan in the early 1980s. Objective viewers of this movie will appreciate its fresh perspective on a sometimes tired Cold War theme.

Rather than presenting a documentary explaining the compromising complexities of relations between the US and its less-than-democratic allies in Taiwan in their fight against the "Reds", Formosa Betrayed hooks the viewer with dramatic events that keep us waiting to peel away the layers of characters we see to figure out what's going on. In the process, we learn of their individual hardships, heartaches, and disillusionment; as well as their hope, courage, and betrayal. While the limited depth of some characters may leave viewers wanting more, the basic story keeps us captivated.

Formosa Betrayed does a good job of piecing together scenes in a modified chronology of events to provide an enticing but very smooth flow. Attention to details like uniforms, posters, architecture, and nature provides scenery that keeps us transported in the appropriate space in time. Combined with these elements is an excellent soundtrack that completes a well-done film.

While the story's plot - like its characters or the actors that played them - could have been sharpened to provide more astute answers to the many questions that are raised, it makes me think there is room to explore similar themes in the future.