“Formosa Betrayed” Opens in Selected Cities 2/26: Win Tickets to Opening Weekend in Berkeley!

UPDATE: Congrats to the winner! “alicewong” will be seeing the movie this weekend at Landmark’s Shattuck! Also, filmmaker Will Tiao will speak with audiences for Q&As on Friday, February 26, at AMC Cupertino Square 16 in Cupertino at 1:40 showtimes, and at Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley at 7:05 showtime (following the Shattuck Q&A will be an informal “meet-and-greet” at Lot 68 Lounge at same location.)

Formosa Betrayed has been on my radar for years and as I was driving to a screening of this film last week, I was afraid that I’d built up so many expectations in my mind that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.

A few months ago, I met up with Will Tiao and Adam Kane in Formosa Films’ Hollywood offices on the eve of my own trip to Taiwan. At that time, Formosa Betrayed had just been picked up for distribution by Screen Media Films. We discussed how Formosa Betrayed is not a documentary and how the filmmakers were trying to create a great narrative story with the true untold history of Taiwan as a backdrop. Bravo to the filmmakers for telling an important story that has been silenced for too long. Although the characters are fictionalized, I was impressed by the accuracy regarding many of the historical events mentioned in the film.

After the screening, I met a couple of ladies who had questions about Taiwanese history. The movie sparked a wonderful conversation between us — one of the ladies was of Taiwanese descent, but said that her family never talked about “this stuff” because her parents sat on opposite sides when it came to Taiwanese politics. I encouraged her to use events she saw in the movie as a springboard for her to have conversations with her parents — not about politics, but about her family history and how historical events shaped them.

Although much of the storyline is through the eyes of a American (white) FBI agent played by James Van Der Beek, the hero(es) of the movie are Taiwanese. I often hear Asian Americans complain that they don’t see their stories being told on the silver screen. Kudos to Will Tiao for taking the bull by the horns to write, fundraise for, and produce the story he wanted to tell.

My conversation with Will & Adam was in the back of my mind as I headed to Asia; without even seeing the film, it had already inspired me to ask questions and learn more about my family history in Taiwan. Many of the things depicted in the movie were things that people were not allowed to talk about in Taiwan for decades. I am grateful Taiwan is now a democracy and that people can be free to ask questions about subjects that had previously been unmentionable.

I plan to see the movie again during opening weekend– this time with my Mom and other friends. Will you see this?

To make it easier for some Bay Area folks: 8Asians is doing a ticket giveaway!

TICKET GIVEAWAY FOR BERKELEY OPENING!
Courtesy of Landmark Theatres, 8Asians is giving away a free pair of tickets for Opening weekend (2/26, 2/27, 2/28) in Berkeley (Landmark’s Shattuck Theatre)

All you have to do is to leave a comment with why you want to see this film and one lucky winner will be selected to go!

(Contest will be closed at 12 noon on Thursday, 2/25/2010)

Selected engagement information is located after the jump. [Updated screening schedule]

Coming February 26th:
New York, NY
-Village East: 181 – 189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, 212-529-6799
-UA Midway Cinemas: 108-22 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375, 212-529-6799

New Jersey
-AMC New Brunswick: 17 US Highway 1, New Brunswick, NJ 08902, (732) 846-2275

Los Angeles, CA
-AMC Puente Hills: 1560 South Azusa Ave, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, 1-888-AMC-4FUN
-AMC Rolling Hills: 2591 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505, 1-888-AMC-4FUN
-Beverly Center 13: 8522 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, (310) 652-7760
-Edwards Atlantic Palace 10: 700 W. Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801, (310) 652-7760

Orange County, CA
-Edwards Westpark 8: 3755 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606, (949) 622-8609
-Regal Garden Grove 16: 9741 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92841, (714) 530-9864

Boston, MA
-AMC Boston Commons: 175 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111, (617) 423-5801

Bay Area, CA
-Century San Francisco Centre 9: 845 Market Street 5th floor of Westfield Shopping Centre,
San Francisco, CA 94103, (415) 538-8422
-Landmark Shattuck: 2230 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704, (510) 464-5980
-AMC Cupertino: 10123 N. Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA 95014, 1-888-AMC-4FUN
-Cinemark 25 Union Landing: 32100 Alvarado Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587, (510) 487-9347
-Cinemark 20: 1010 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035-8034, (408) 942-7441

Coming March 12th: Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC and Metro, San Diego

Coming March 26th: Houston, Dallas, Austin, Toronto, Vancouver

Coming April 5th: Seattle, Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis, Kansas City

Coming April 12th: Honolulu, Columbus OH, Detroit/Ann Arbor