Taiwanese director Wei Te-sheng (魏德聖) yesterday said if his latest film, Seediq Bale (賽德克巴萊), could recoup the NT$700 million (US$24 million) it cost to produce, the Taiwanese film industry would rise to a new level.
“I really have not estimated [the box office returns]. I just hope it can make the money back in the end. If it does, it will open huge possibilities for Taiwan’s film industry,” Wei said just before a special screening of the epic in Greater Kaohsiung yesterday afternoon.
If Seediq Bale succeeds, it will give hope to other filmmakers throughout Taiwan who might want to attempt big-budget films, he said.
Photo: Chang Chung-yi, Taipei Times
Seediq Bale is the most expensive movie in the nation’s filmmaking history. After the film failed to win the Golden Lion Award at the 68th Venice Film Festival on Sunday, the 42-year-old Wei said he cared more about the audience’s response than the award.
“It’s more about the audience being moved by the film and feeling something after seeing it,” he said. “It’s more important that they get something from the film.”
“If I win a lot of awards, but the audience does not identify with my work, it would not mean much,” he added.
The movie is being submitted for nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category of next year’s Academy Awards.
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