Invisible Nation, 2023.
Directed by Vanessa Hope.
SYNOPSIS:
Taiwan’s first female president, Tsai Ing-wen, centers this portrait of the constantly colonized island, as it struggles to preserve its hard-won democracy, autonomy and freedom from fear of authoritarian aggression.
Serving as an expertly researched and produced portrait of Taiwan, this documentary film lifts the lid on the country’s struggles with claiming its own identity. The film provides plenty of insight into the land’s rebirth as a place where democracy and personal freedoms are prized.
A suggestion offered is that the island has for many years seen a variety of governments stretching back to the 1600s when European colonial projects began. The Dutch, and the Spanish, variously held sway over Taiwan, using its important strategic spot for trade and military strategy.
The film is always careful to contrast this with its powerful neighbour, the People’s Republic of China. The two countries have a multi-layered relationship that goes back thousands of years. In more recent times, the split between Nationalist and Communist parties in China in 1949 led to the Nationalist group setting up home in Taiwan for a few decades.
Indeed, The country retains the name the Republic of China – Taiwan. This somewhat confusing nomenclature goes a little way to showing how puzzling the country’s identity has been. The film skilfully shows this, interviewing Taiwanese people who point out that Chinese pressure to occlude their status takes many forms, from removing Taiwan from drop down menus when booking a flight, to cyberattacks and patrols of war boats and aircraft along the Taiwan Strait.
Director Vanessa Hope enjoyed unprecedented access to the workings of two terms of Taiwanese government helmed by the former leader President Tsai Ing-wen. Showcasing the first female president, as a sympathetic and skilled politician, the film documents her fights for the future of Taiwan in the face of aggression.
Hope’s observational style and use of news media and archival segments provides a far-reaching distillation of the state of the nation. Acting as a smart overview of Taiwan’s struggle out of military dictatorship into an international looking and forward-facing democracy, the film makes a striking case for the country’s confidence and adaptability.
The film brings a balanced look at the dynamics of the interplay between the two nations and the Taiwanese right to be recognised.
As celebrated South Korean director Park Chan-Wook points out in an endorsement of the film, “Taiwan is not an invisible nation. It is a country that deserves far more of our attention, and one that undeniably exists.” Invisible Nation makes a profound statement about Taiwanese democracy and its ongoing quest for stability and economic success.
INVISIBLE NATION will be available to view in the UK and US from 6-9 December exclusively on GATHR.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★/ Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert W. Monk
