In the early 1980s, an FBI Agent is assigned to investigate the murder of a respected professor. Through his investigation, he unearths a spider web of international secrets that has been thriving within college campuses across America for decades. His investigation takes him across the Pacific to the island nation of Taiwan, where with the help of the outspoken widow and an unlikely spy, he learns that the Professor's killing was not a random act, but a desperate move by a scandalous government intent on keeping its nefarious activities under wraps. Our detective soon finds himself on a collision course against the U.S. State Department, the Chinese Mafia, and the Nationalist Chinese Government - in a land where the truth is not what it seems and the only people he can trust, cannot be trusted at all. Inspired by actual events.
Reviews
It's 1983. University professor Henry Wen is killed in Chicago. FBI agents Jake Kelly (James Van Der Beek) and Tom Braxton (John Heard) are assigned the case. They join police detective Lisa Gilbert (Leslie Hope). Henry was rumored to be writing a book. His widow gives Kelly the name of Dr. Huang Li Pei at the National Palace Museum. The two suspects injure Gilbert and escape back to Taiwan. There is no extradition process but Kelly is allowed to assist. Susan Kane (Wendy Crewson) is the American liaison and Kuo (Tzi Ma) is the Taiwanese liaison. Superintenant Loh and Captain Chen are investigating. The country is under a rabid anti-communist military government who is pushing the local mob as the culprit.This is more a history lesson than an action thriller. There is a bit of international political intrigue but it's all pretty straight forward pro democracy stuff. It isn't much of a crime story. The tension never gets too high. There is action but this ain't no Jason Bourne. Van Der Beek is functional. Nothing is outstanding but there is a bit of local insights.
I like this movie. I agree with some people that the scene doesn't look like Taiwan in 80'. It should've been more modern look, but the story is just so good so I can forgive the settings. It reminds us not to forget that we are TAIWANESE, nothing to do with China. We have been using the name "Taiwan" for 100 years, and I am proud of it. We have our own culture, language, food, government, law system, not to mention democracy. How can you deny it is a country and very different from China. It is a shame that still some people don't recognize Taiwan as a independent country, even some Taiwanese, but I appreciate that a lot of people are trying to let people see us and value us.The acting and editing are excellent. Also, the music at the end "Desire for Spring Breeze", the traditional Taiwanese song, just makes me cry.
It is wonderful to see a film about the heroic struggle of the people of Taiwan for democracy and independence, even if I and my wife were the only people in theater at a 7:20 p.m. Saturday showing on the day of its release in Michigan. Unfortunately, the best thing I can say for it is that the backstory is basically true - there was a Taiwanese-American murdered in the U.S. by a Taiwanese gang, apparently at the instigation of Republic of China's government, possibly because he had embarrassed it by writing an unflattering biography of then R.O.C. President Chiang Ching-Kuo, and the atrocities portrayed in the film did largely happen, albeit at different times and under different circumstances. The film systematically garbles and almost trivializes a series of horrible crimes against the Taiwanese which actually occurred over a period of years by making virtually every crime of the late KMT period seem to occur within the same week as part of an effort to stymie an FBI investigation of the murder. Equally annoying was the gross parody of how actual criminal investigations in foreign countries are conducted. U.S. criminal investigators abroad always at least appear to cooperate (and show respect for) their foreign counterparts even when they suspect, as is often the case, that they are less than enthusiastic about the investigation. No FBI agent is going to charge into a foreign government's takedown of a suspect, and fight his way past a army of armed soldiers to try to get to the perpetrator first. The agent's other activities in the film are equally preposterous, going way beyond "cowboyish" to simply suicidal, both for himself and his informants. In short, the film provides a very garbled overview of recent Taiwanese history combined with the most absurd portrayal of a U.S. overseas criminal investigation since Rush Hour.
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.
