Formosa Betrayed (2009)

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Director:

Adam Kane

Writers:

Will Tiao (story)
Charlie Stratton (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

February 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

In the early 1980s, an FBI Agent is assigned to investigate the murder of a respected professor. Through his investigation...

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

James Van Der Beek	...	Jake Kelly
Wendy Crewson	...	Susan Kane
Will Tiao	...	Ming
John Heard	...	Tom Braxton
Tzi Ma	...	Kuo
Chelcie Ross	...	Daltry
Leslie Hope	...	Lisa Gilbert
Kenneth Tsang	...	General Tse
Adam Wang	...	Lee
Mintita Wattanakul	...	Maysing
Joseph Forunda	...	Professor Henry Wen
Tonray Ho	...	Mrs. Wen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Henry Milton Chu	...	Wu (as Henry Chu)
Jay Disney	...	Professor at Protest
Alex Duong	...	Wu
Peter F. Essig	...	College Professor
Tim Grimm	...	Dean Goodman
Naomi Heilmann	...	Protester
Michelle Higgins	...	Cocktail Server
Bob Kolbey	...	College Professor
Don Kress	...	Agent
Andrew J. Lee	...	Lee
Deborah Lynn	...	FBI Secretary
John Marengo	...	Businessman at Bar
Joseph Mazurk	...	Undercover FBI Agent
Stephen Oyoung	...	Interrogator
Lisa Wolf	...	Pallbearer

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Formosa Films

A murder-mystery that offers an intriguing insight into the complexities and brutalities of Cold War relations between the US and Taiwan.

I didn't know what to expect with this film. Murder-mysteries are not generally my thing, but this one pulled it off with a truly insightful look into Taiwan in the early 1980s. Objective viewers of this movie will appreciate its fresh perspective on a sometimes tired Cold War theme.

Rather than presenting a documentary explaining the compromising complexities of relations between the US and its less-than-democratic allies in Taiwan in their fight against the "Reds", Formosa Betrayed hooks the viewer with dramatic events that keep us waiting to peel away the layers of characters we see to figure out what's going on. In the process, we learn of their individual hardships, heartaches, and disillusionment; as well as their hope, courage, and betrayal. While the limited depth of some characters may leave viewers wanting more, the basic story keeps us captivated.

Formosa Betrayed does a good job of piecing together scenes in a modified chronology of events to provide an enticing but very smooth flow. Attention to details like uniforms, posters, architecture, and nature provides scenery that keeps us transported in the appropriate space in time. Combined with these elements is an excellent soundtrack that completes a well-done film.

While the story's plot - like its characters or the actors that played them - could have been sharpened to provide more astute answers to the many questions that are raised, it makes me think there is room to explore similar themes in the future.