Invisible Nation

This carefully crafted documentary by Vanessa Hope is a MUST watch; Informative, and incredibly compelling. Especially helpful to an audience unfamiliar with Taiwan, a case is presented as to WHY Taiwan - and also Ukraine- are so important to democracies around the world. Vanessa Hope had a lot of access to the President, Tsai Ing-wen, and does a great job presenting both the politician and the human being. This film also feels very timely- with the challenges of a female candidate and an energized youth vote fighting to be heard. Wei-San Hsu's score is absolutely beautiful. This film deserves to be on every short list for Documentary Feature awards.

Slamdance FF 2024 Greetings again from the darkness. The festival's closing night film selection was this penetrative documentary by Vanessa Hope (granddaughter of producer Walter Wanger and classic film actress Joan Bennett). Given the state of global geopolitics at the moment, this inside glimpse of Taiwan through the eyes of its first female President, Tsai Ing-wen couldn't be more timely.

It's tough to decide which is more heartbreaking: watching high school students proclaim their identity through a Taiwan they view as an independent nation, or China President Xi Jinping stating, "Taiwan is China", and that reunification is inevitable. Taiwan has been a democracy for decades, but it's also a de facto country, one that isn't even allowed to use their own name at the Olympics (Chinese Taipei).

We immediately gain respect for President Tsai Ing-wen as an exceptionally smart and wise and tough leader. On a daily basis, she deals with suppression from China, and has to walk a fine diplomatic line between supporters and detractors. We learn a bit more about The Sunflower Movement, a student-led rebellion and what role that has played in recent history. Unfortunately, this well-made and informative documentary reinforces the dread we feel towards the future of Taiwan as an independent nation.

This documentary shines a light on the spirit and resilience of Taiwan's democracy in the face of an escalating military threat from China. The central focus is Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen who was elected in 2016. The filmmaker had good access to Tsai and conducted several interviews with her over the period from 2016 to 2022. Tsai admits she was a shy child, but she really is a quiet achiever. She has resolutely upheld Taiwan's sovereignty and helped to strengthen Taiwan's support from the international community while China has simultaneously exerted military and diplomatic pressure to isolate Taiwan.

Taiwan is shown as a nation that values democracy, peace and pluralism, a sharp contrast to its bullying neighbour which threatens Taiwan with violence. A number of key figures in Tsai's government were also interviewed including foreign minister, Joseph Wu, and former representative to the USA, Hsiao Bi-khim. They are Taiwan's greatest and most tireless advocates and have been key to the success of Tsai's efforts to raise Taiwan's international support.

The documentary would have benefited from including more voices from Taiwan's younger generations. They are, after all, Taiwan's future. Overall, Invisible Nation presents a clear narrative of Taiwan maintaining its democracy in difficult circumstances. At a time when democracy around the world is under pressure Taiwan shows the value of democracy, but that democracy cannot survive without the world's support.

Taiwan is the most culturally complex island nation in Asia, yet little is understood here about it. Formerly known as Formosa ("beautiful" in Portuguese, the first Europeans to have a presence there), home to numerous indigenous groups long before any outsiders, including Chinese, arrived, Taiwan is like Sicily in the Mediterranean: a large island close to major geopolitical powers, ruled by various foreigners for centuries, yet proudly and insistently their own people, especially, in Taiwan's case, since the end of WWII and the Japanese occupation.

INVISIBLE NATION does the island justice in its portrayal of its president and the peaceful transfer of power after a recent election, and its stalwart resistance to being taken over by the PRC. A must-see for anyone passionate about democracy, freedom, and human rights.

If you want to understand the history of Taiwan and it's struggle with Big Red China, this film would be a good start for you.

The film clearly brings you the political transition in Taiwan from an authoritarian government into a democratic system. It is not easy at all. It takes a lot of people, who sacrifice their lives to let the Taiwanese people to enjoy the freedom now.

By looking at Chinese Communist nailed down Hong Kong democracy in 2017, most of Taiwanese people stand up with free world to fight against possible invasion from China. If we lose Taiwan and it's democracy, free countries such as Japan, South Korea, Philippine, etc. Will be forced to defend their own country, sames as America.

The chips manufacturing including AI in Taiwan will be destroyed or controlled by Communist, which is totally authoritarian region, very corrupted, and have killed many millions of their own people.

This film will give you a better understanding about what the world is happening now. We have to fight against aggressors such as Russia, China, North Korea, etc. Right now.

Michael.