【电影简介】

上集以象征日本的《太阳旗》为名，由1895年日军占领台湾开始，演至1930年雾社事件，并酝酿着眼于雾社公学校事件爆发前后的描述。

昭和5年10月27日（西元1930年），台湾总督府为纪念北白川宫能久亲王被杀，而举行台湾神社祭，雾社地区则照例举行联合运动会。当联合运动会开幕，所有日人、警察及其眷属齐聚公学校之际，赛德克雾社群之马赫坡、荷戈、波亚伦、斯库、罗多夫、塔罗湾等六部落赛德克族人，由雾社群马赫坡社头目莫那·鲁道率领发难。

当日清晨，雾社公学校（现今台电万大电厂雾社分部）运动会，由能高郡守小笠敬太郎主持开幕典礼，其他日本人都前来观礼，这时候预先埋伏的赛德克勇士，在莫那·鲁道攻击号令下，立刻展开猛烈的突袭，在一阵毫无预警的混战中，将运动场内134位日人一一撂倒砍杀。

另一方面，莫那·鲁道命令次子巴索·莫那（Baso Mona）潜入马赫坡山取材地、袭击日警，并命长子达多·莫那（Tado Mona）潜入马赫坡社警察驻在所，亦将日警及其眷属全数枪毙。后分成数队，切断日人对外的所有电话线路，陆续袭击各部落之警察驻在所，掳擭弹药、枪械。借此向雾社地区的各个部落宣告，反暴统治之圣战已经开打，终致纷纷群起响应。

在震惊愤怒之余，日军旋即调度派遣驻扎台中、花莲的步兵与警力，区分两路向雾社方面挺进；莫那·鲁道率领族人抗敌缠斗、辗转退守马赫坡石窟。一场双方分别为了资源与报复围剿、祖灵与灵魂尊严的异族战端，就此揭开序幕。

【音频文本】

Moviegoers on the Chinese mainland can now visit the local cinemas for a look at Taiwan's most expensive film 'Seediq Bale.' The 150 million yuan historical drama epic is perhaps also the most topical and thought-provoking among the Taiwan director's recent productions.

The story is based on the 1930 Wushe incident. The Seediq people had lived and hunted in Taiwan's wild andcentral highlands of Wushe for generations. But their way of life was interrupted when the Qing governmentin 1895 ceded the Taiwan Island to the Japanese who tried to 'civilize' them while exploiting their land and manpower. The Seediq people, knowing their efforts will eventually led to their doom, revolted against the Japanese occupation and killed almost all Japanese people in the neighborhood. The uprising was later quashed by the Japanese army, with all the revolting clans being practically annihilated.

Te-sheng Wei has always wanted to make this film, but lacked the means. His last blockbuster 'Cape No. 7' was actually a detour that he took in order to raise the money for Seediq Bale. During the years he spent working on the funding, he did research on the Wushe incident. And while filming he was very meticulous with the details, so the epic picture appears most realistic and authentic. Viewers can gain a pretty good understanding of the life and spirit of the Seediq people, while at the same time enjoying the spectacular scenery, a taste of the local folk culture and tremble at the sight of blood-soaked battle scenes.

The best part about the film is the spirit. Not only because it is the product of the director's ideal andeffort, but also because of the way he portrays the Seediqs. In his patient and realistic way, the director helps you appreciate the bloodthirsty honor system of the Seediq people, while at the same time stirs your stomach by revealing their crude head-hunting mania.

The sheer length also added to the cost. The film is divided into two parts, the Flag of the Sun and The Bridge of the Rainbow, running to a total of four and half hours. The first half could make a complete story on its own. The character of Mona Rudao, while weak against the epic storyline, is able to lead the narrative. By comparison, the latter part seems a little bit messy and redundant. Only the constant bloodshed and beheading helped me establish an effective line of defense in my stomach.

Perhaps the director concentrated too much on realizing his long cherished dream. His approach towards this film cannot be more personal. His main emphasis was laid on presenting the spiritual motives of the Seediq revolt, and his disregard for the pace of storytelling poses quite a challenge to viewers. Certainly the moviegoers could view the two and half hour single cut version, but the weak characterization, as mentioned above, may not be able to satisfy the most critical viewers.

Nevertheless, 'Seediq Bale' is a movie full of spirit. The director is most successful in presenting the Seediq way of life. If you have a good command of your bladder and stomach, do watch it, it won't be a disappointment.

On a scale of one to ten, I give it a seven.

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