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Reviews
Formosa Betrayed (2009)
Please go see this film!
I saw "Formosa Betrayed" opening weekend in Berkeley, CA on 2/28/2010. There were many Taiwanese-Americans in the audience, some 60-75ish. During one point in the film where the story of the 2-28 incident is told to the main character, you could hear sniffling, coughing and people blowing their noses. This was an emotional moment for me and for many in the audience. An entire generation of Taiwanese was murdered, brutalized, and silenced. Those who attempt to write this movie off as mere profit-motivated propaganda are no different than those who would deny that the Holocaust ever happened. Don't be fooled. This movie is important just as it is entertaining.
If you enjoy political thrillers, you will love this film. The non-linear narrative is excellent, and the story telling superb. The use of actual historical photos of the descent of Chiang Kai-Shek's army on Taiwan, as well as photos of the brutality surrounding 2-28, and Nixon's meeting with Mao are powerfully chilling.
James Van Der Beek's performance as FBI Agent will blow you away. In all honesty, Will Tiao's acting could have been better, but give him credit for the monumental task he accomplished in raising over $6 million USD in private investor funds to get this independent film made. It was obviously a labor of love, and this fact shines through in every moment of the final product, from the opening image of a satellite map of Taiwan to the the closing montage. For movie-goers who prefer to learn something intellectually challenging through a thought-provoking and entertaining film, please go see this movie.