【電影簡介】

上集以象征日本的《太陽旗》為名，由1895年日軍占領臺灣開始，演至1930年霧社事件，并醞釀著眼于霧社公學校事件爆發前后的描述。

昭和5年10月27日（西元1930年），臺灣總督府為紀念北白川宮能久親王被殺，而舉行臺灣神社祭，霧社地區則照例舉行聯合運動會。當聯合運動會開幕，所有日人、警察及其眷屬齊聚公學校之際，賽德克霧社群之馬赫坡、荷戈、波亞倫、斯庫、羅多夫、塔羅灣等六部落賽德克族人，由霧社群馬赫坡社頭目莫那·魯道率領發難。

當日清晨，霧社公學校（現今臺電萬大電廠霧社分部）運動會，由能高郡守小笠敬太郎主持開幕典禮，其他日本人都前來觀禮，這時候預先埋伏的賽德克勇士，在莫那·魯道攻擊號令下，立刻展開猛烈的突襲，在一陣毫無預警的混戰中，將運動場內134位日人一一撂倒砍殺。

另一方面，莫那·魯道命令次子巴索·莫那（Baso Mona）潛入馬赫坡山取材地、襲擊日警，并命長子達多·莫那（Tado Mona）潛入馬赫坡社警察駐在所，亦將日警及其眷屬全數槍斃。后分成數隊，切斷日人對外的所有電話線路，陸續襲擊各部落之警察駐在所，擄擭彈藥、槍械。借此向霧社地區的各個部落宣告，反暴統治之圣戰已經開打，終致紛紛群起響應。

在震驚憤怒之余，日軍旋即調度派遣駐扎臺中、花蓮的步兵與警力，區分兩路向霧社方面挺進；莫那·魯道率領族人抗敵纏斗、輾轉退守馬赫坡石窟。一場雙方分別為了資源與報復圍剿、祖靈與靈魂尊嚴的異族戰端，就此揭開序幕。

【音頻文本】

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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