This film is based on true events which
occurred in central Taiwan in 1930. The international version was a combination
of the two separate films shown in Taiwan which cut down the running time from
four-and-a-half hours to two-and-a-half hours. I watched the full version over
two sittings: Part I “The Sun Flag” and Part II “The Rainbow Bridge”, and
believe this version allows the viewer to engage the story better than the
shorter version.
Warriors
of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale is a dramatization of
the events surrounding the Wushe Incident, of which the main focus is the
Aboriginal group, the Seediq people of Taiwan. This is a retelling of the rise
of the Seediq against Japanese oppression, of which the Seediq where severely
outnumbered and outgunned, but left a mark on the history of the land by
fighting for their honour and family.
Nowadays, films are objects of intense scrutiny
by critics and audiences and the box office result is usually the determinant
of the success of a particular film. Regardless of the international response,
for a film that emerged out of Taiwan,
Seediq Bale is a success in itself, being the most expensive film produced
in Taiwan to date. The response to the film in its domestic release was overwhelming,
and the vision of the director to bring the story of a little-known part of
Taiwan history to the big screen allowed people like me, Taiwanese but ignorant
of our history, to appreciate our nation’s past. After seeing the film, I
believe the message within the story is the most important aspect of this film,
and I hope, in addition to feelings of pride for Seediq Bale as a great cinematic achievement in our nation’s film
history, that this message was successfully conveyed to many in the audience.
The Message
The film showed the power of belief and
tradition that is embedded within cultures and also the lengths to which people
will go to honour their beliefs and to keep their traditions alive, even if,
ultimately, the only path to liberation is death. The Seediq believed in the
honour and dignity of being true Seediq warriors, and they could not idly sit
by and watch the destruction and demeaning of their culture and way of life,
instead, even in the face of insurmountable resistance, they would rise and fight
to become true warriors and to earn a place with their ancestors in the eternal
hunting grounds on the other side of the rainbow bridge.
But is what was done by the Seediq right?
The events depicted in the film is not unique to this part of history, and
these same themes have reared their heads throughout history during
confrontations between indigenous peoples and other more powerful societies
that arrive in newly discovered lands and attempt to drive the natives away in
order to take the land and its resources for themselves. Bloodshed is often the
result of the desperation of the natives, who know no other way to fight back.
The Seediq were not considered to be equals by the Japanese, but rather,
regarded as savages and treated as little more than slaves. The Japanese
attempt to “civilize” the Seediq showed a complete disrespect and disregard for
the culture and history of these people, actions that can hardly be considered
to be civilised. The Japanese wronged the Seediq, snatching away their homes
and hunting grounds, mistreating them and destroying their culture, but other
than fighting back, did the Seediq really have another path to freedom?
Other remarks
The acting was remarkable, even more so
because the majority of the cast were non-professional actors, who were able to
perfect the Seediq dialogue (the speakers of this language are diminishing in
number) as well as to accurately portray the hunting and fighting scenes which
required immense physical exertion. Through their accurate portrayals of the
Seediq, the use of unfamiliar faces allowed a true sense of the departed Seediq
to be felt; convincing audiences that they had truly stepped back in time.
Another highlight of the film was the use
of traditional Seediq music in the score, which brought to life the rich
palette of emotions experienced by the characters. Although the words in the
songs may be foreign to most: the meaning of family, the honour of being a true
warrior, pride and dignity, the spirits of the ancestors and the liberation of
the soul, the simplicity of these lyrics resonate with meaning through the haunting
melodies of the Seediq. These are simple yet complex concepts that we seldom contemplate
in modern society, and are values and beliefs that cannot be fully comprehended
without having experienced the struggles that people like the Seediq lived
through.
The scenery in the film was spectacular,
showcasing a part of Taiwan that I have not been able to see with my own eyes. I
can understand the desperation of the Seediq to defend their hunting grounds
and the land that they had occupied for hundreds of years before the arrival of
the Han and Japanese.
Of course, the film has its flaws, and one
of them is the one-dimensional portrayal of the Japanese. Even though they were
not portrayed as monsters, the addition of a few sympathetic Japanese did not
fully convince us of the true nature of the Japanese perspective of the events
that unfolded. History should not be seen through only one perspective, and the
actions of a few should not be used as the foundation of generalisations.
Final thoughts
The film is an epic, action-packed dramatization
of true events, while not entirely historically accurate, beneath the bloodshed
and ample beheading scenes, a beautiful story is told. Hopeless from the
outset, this film tells a tragic story, but reveals the power of belief and the
indestructible nature of the human spirit. It is the story of the bravery of a
small group of seemingly powerless people uniting and rising up to fight
against Goliath for the preservation of their simple, yet fulfilling way of
life.
The film teaches us about the true meaning of
wealth and the importance of preserving the past and tradition. The true source
of wealth for the Seediq was their hunting grounds, the forests, waterfalls,
rivers, animals and vegetation, but they did not own the land, and instead they
were one with it. The way in which they valued those hunting grounds is
different from how we perceive value today, worth much more than what our
modern materialistic minds can comprehend. Their rich history and culture, the
honouring of their ancestors and the ability to pass these on through
generations was valued and what they fought to protect from extinction.
Seediq
Bale is in no way a cinematic masterpiece, but the
film succeeded in bringing the story of the Seediq to the attention of many,
challenging us to reflect upon the morality of the actions of those who lived
before us. It teaches us to be tolerant of others, to respect and acknowledge
their land, culture and history, and to accept them as equal counterparts within
a world which we should peacefully and willingly share. Let this film be a
reminder that history should never be repeated, and that savagery against our
own kind should never again be witnessed.
The Seediq's only wish was to return
to their hunting grounds and their way of life. Their view of death is in no
way filled with sorrow; instead it is filled with hope and beauty, as embodied
by the words they say as they part:
“May we meet again in the eternal hunting
fields on the other side of the rainbow bridge.”
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