Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011)
By Paokholal Haokip
Although the Taiwanese period drama Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale can be seen as a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of Taiwan’s historical and cultural dynamics, viewed through a Chinese lens. Yet it is similar to the Kuki resistance against British imperialism in Northeast India, commonly called Anglo- Kuki war. The movie’s themes of cultural clash, identity, and resistance resonate with the experiences of many ethnic and indigenous groups in China and highlight the ongoing challenges of building a diverse and inclusive society for a region dominated mainly by a mono-ethnic culture and people. Directed by Wei Te-Sheng, The film is based on the 1930 Wushe Incident, a rebellion led by the Seediq tribe against Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan. The movie tells the story of the Seediq tribe’s struggle for independence and their eventual defeat at the hands of the Japanese colonial government. In this analysis, I will look at the movie’s characters, narratives, and historical themes.