Tensions between filmmaker Peng Chia-chia (澎恰恰) and supporters of Aboriginal rights escalated yesterday over a movie trailer accused of portraying Aboriginal culture in a derogatory manner.
An upcoming comedy film directed by Peng, Iron Lion Jade Dragon 2 (鐵獅玉玲瓏 2), has been mired in controversy since the release of its trailer early last month, with critics saying that the trailer’s portrayal of the Sediq people was inappropriate.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Peng called for an “open debate” with representatives from the Sediq group after refusing to publish an official apology in major national newspapers, as demanded by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Uliw Qaljupayare — a Paiwan Aborigine also known by his Chinese name, Chien Tung-ming (簡東明).
The trailer that sparked debate features Peng and fellow comedian Hsu Hsiao-shun (許效舜) dressed in traditional Sediq clothing while speaking and singing gibberish, in an apparent attempt to parody the 2011 epic Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (彩虹戰士:賽德克巴萊) — which was filmed mostly in the Sediq and Japanese languages.
It has also been said to mock Mona Rudao — the Sediq chief who led an uprising against Japanese colonial rule leading to the Wushe Incident (霧社事件) in 1930 — with the duo likening the pronunciation of the chief’s name “Mona” to the Taiwanese idiom bong la-a kiam se khoo (摸蜊仔兼洗褲) which literally means to “wash one’s pants while digging for clams” — to kill two birds with one stone.
Peng said he has already apologized and removed the trailer from the Internet, adding that any further charges are “too hurtful to bear,” and that it is his critics who are provoking ethnic tensions.
A legislative motion led by Uliw Qaljupayare demanding an apology from Peng was passed at the legislature’s plenary session on Tuesday, while discussions to establish an anti-discrimination law are also under way.
Sediq National Congress member and Aboriginal activist Awi Nokan said that Peng “does not understand at all” the issues at stake, adding: “He is unable to empathize with disadvantaged groups.”
He said the issue highlighted the importance of anti-discrimination legislation, as many Taiwanese seem to be “indifferent” to discriminatory or insensitive comments.
Last month, Aboriginal director Umin Boya, best-known for last year’s baseball-themed movie Kano, said the trailer poked fun at the “historical wounds” of both the Sediq and Japanese, and blasted Peng for propagating discriminatory views.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is to launch a new program to encourage international students to stay in Taiwan and explore job opportunities here after graduation, Deputy Minister of Education Yeh Ping-cheng (葉丙成) said on Friday. The government would provide full scholarships for international students to further their studies for two years in Taiwan, so those who want to pursue a master’s degree can consider applying for the program, he said. The fields included are science, technology, engineering, mathematics, semiconductors and finance, Yeh added. The program, called “Intense 2+2,” would also assist international students who completed the two years of further studies in
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) departed for Europe on Friday night, with planned stops in Lithuania and Denmark. Tsai arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Friday night, but did not speak to reporters before departing. Tsai wrote on social media later that the purpose of the trip was to reaffirm the commitment of Taiwanese to working with democratic allies to promote regional security and stability, upholding freedom and democracy, and defending their homeland. She also expressed hope that through joint efforts, Taiwan and Europe would continue to be partners building up economic resilience on the global stage. The former president was to first
Taiwan will now have four additional national holidays after the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment today, which also made Labor Day a national holiday for all sectors. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) used their majority in the Legislative Yuan to pass the amendment to the Act on Implementing Memorial Days and State Holidays (紀念日及節日實施辦法), which the parties jointly proposed, in its third and final reading today. The legislature passed the bill to amend the act, which is currently enforced administratively, raising it to the legal level. The new legislation recognizes Confucius’ birthday on Sept. 28, the
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
RSS