The acclaimed historical drama Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale, chronicling indigenous resistance against Japanese colonial forces in early 20th-century Taiwan, will return to the Chinese mainland's cinemas on December 12. This marks the first full screening of the complete two-part version since its initial mainland release in 2012.
Directed by Wei Te-sheng, the 4.5-hour epic has gained renewed attention this year through digital streaming platforms. Film historians note its significance as one of Taiwan's most ambitious cinematic portrayals of anti-colonial struggles, with the re-release timed to coincide with growing public interest in cross-strait cultural exchanges.
Industry analysts observe that the screening aligns with recent efforts to promote shared historical narratives across the Taiwan Strait. A Beijing-based cultural commentator told KhabarAsia: "This re-release demonstrates how art can bridge contemporary divides by revisiting complex chapters of our collective past."
The film's return to theaters comes as mainland audiences show increasing appetite for regional cinema, with November 2025 box office figures showing a 22% year-on-year increase for historical dramas from Asian filmmakers.
