Formosa Betrayed Out in Feb in the US

New TVBS poll out saying the DPP's Hsiao Bi-khim and the KMT candidate are neck and neck in Hualien at 37% each with the two independent candidates at 13 each. It's important to keep in mind that some of the polls exist to get KMTers out to vote -- the KMT blames low Blue voter turnout for its recent hits at the polls. Hence this poll might reflect reality, or it might reflect a desire to get voters out. You make the call.

Formosa Betrayed, director Will Tiao's new movie about the Chen Wen-chen killing, is out at the end of this month in the US. The trailer is online on Youtube. The film promises to be good, and there have been a number of articles on it in the US papers.... New movie ties Taiwan's messy politics to a Bay Area murder:

"Formosa Betrayed" tells the tale of a fictional character who is a composite of two real-life personalities.

One was Chen Wen-cheng, a Carnegie Mellon University professor and critic of Taiwan's government who died under suspicious circumstances during a visit to Taiwan in 1981. The other was Chinese-American journalist Henry Liu, killed in 1984 after writing an unflattering biography of Taiwan's ruler, Chiang Ching-kuo, the son of Chiang Kai-shek.

The killing occurred at Liu's Daly City home and was linked to a Taiwanese intelligence agent, although the government of Taiwan denied involvement.

The movie is sure to stir passions in Taiwan's robust democracy, which is known for mudslinging politics. The filmmakers are negotiating to bring the film to the island, also called the Republic of China, later this year.

Even before its official opening, "Formosa Betrayed" has caused controversy in Taiwan and among some Taiwanese-Americans who view it as a political movie aimed against the Kuomintang, or KMT, which recaptured Taiwan's presidency in the 2008 election after the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, had held it for eight years.

"I think it's propaganda," said James Chung, executive director of a coalition of Taiwanese political parties in the Bay Area, including the KMT. "They raised money from a lot of DPP people and those extremely against the KMT."

Poor fellow. Imagine having to defend a party that murdered so many. I'm glad I don't have his job!

It's wonderful that someone is finally telling this part of the Taiwan experience in movie form, helping to make it real. Hopefully it will impel locals to explore Taiwan's fascinating history more when it finally arrives here (before the elections, I hope). Here are the opening dates for US cities.

2/26 - 2/28
New York Metro
Los Angeles
Orange County
Bay Area / East Bay and Peninsula
San Jose
Boston

3/5 – 3/7
Chicago
Philadelphia
Washington DC and Metro
San Diego

3/12 - 3/14
Houston
Dallas
Austin
Toronto
Vancouver

3/19 - 3/21
Seattle
Atlanta
Miami
St. Louis
Kansas City

3/26 - 3/28
Honolulu
Columbus, OH
Detroit/Ann Arbor
Raleigh/Durham

RELATED EVENT:
The U of Washington is having a panel discussion on 2-28:

Reexamining Taiwan’s 228 Massacre: A discussion on the U.S. role in Taiwan then and now
When: 28 February, 2010
Where: University of Washington
Kane Hall, Room 110
Event & Parking are Free
Time: 3pm - 5pm (English)

RSVP & More Information: http://snipr.com/2010228

_______________________
[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!