New Taipei City is set to become a mecca for Taiwanese cinema buffs following the local government’s decision to open the film set of upcoming Taiwanese epic “The Rainbow Warriors: Seediq Bale” to the public from early September.
The 3.5-hectare site, located in Linkou District, features 36 traditional aboriginal houses built to resemble Wushe Village in mountainous central Taiwan. The settlement was the scene of an indigenous uprising by the Seediq tribe against Japanese colonial forces in 1930.
“This initiative allows fans of the film to better understand the lives of the Seediq and appreciate the effort that went into creating this celluloid masterpiece,” New Taipei City Government officials said Aug. 5.
The film’s director Wei Te-sheng, who began negotiating with city officials over the future of the set in January, said he was pleased with the result. “It would have been a shame if the entire set was left to rot,” he added.
Construction of the NT$80 million (US$2.8 million) site was overseen by Japanese art designer Yohei Taneda, with each structure built from scratch so as to remain faithful to historical portrayals of the village. Among the buildings are a health clinic, post office, primary school and martial arts training hall.
Sources familiar with the matter said the set, which opens to the public shortly before “Seediq Bale” hits local theaters, will remain in operation for around six months as its structures were not built to withstand the rigors of Taiwan’s weather.
Write to Kwangyin Liu at kwangyin.liu@mail.gio.gov.tw