Taiwanese filmmaker’s Wei Te-sheng’s war epic Seediq Bale will be screened as two films in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Wei’s production company ARS Film Productions said today.

The film, set in 1930 in Taiwan, tells the true story of the Wushe Incident in which aboriginal Seediq tribe warrior Mona Rudao led hid people to rebel against the Japanese occupation. Rudao’s men of 300 fought with the Japanese army of 3000 for two weeks until the tribe was annihilated by air fighters and chemical weapons.

With a production budget of $23.3m (NT$700m), the film is the highest-budgeted film in Taiwanese history. Backed by Taiwan’s Central Motion Pictures Corporation, the film stars Japanese actor Andao Masanobu, Taiwanese actress Vivian Hsu, Landy Wen and Umin Boya. It is Wei Te-sheng’s second feature film after his successful Cape No. 7.  

The 4-hour and 30 min film will open in Taiwan in two installments, on September 9 and September 30 respectovely. CMC Entertainment will release the film in Taiwan.  

Meanwhile, Lighten Distribution will open the films in Hong Kong in two parts in Oct. Wei’s ARS Film Production is handling international sales and for Seedig Bale and it may be edited into a shorter version for international territories.