The documentary film “Invisible Nation,” which chronicles the path of Taiwan’s democracy, recently premiered in Northern California. According to the film’s production team, screenings last week in Berkeley and the first showing in San Jose sold out completely.
From July 31 to Aug. 4, the film was shown in various theaters in Berkeley, Sebastopol, San Jose, San Francisco, and San Rafael.
On Aug. 2, the couple and another co-producer, Cassandra Jabola, held a press conference in San Francisco to share behind-the-scenes stories about the movie’s production.
In 1995, as she was about to graduate from university, Vanessa Hope had the chance to participate in a study-abroad program in Taiwan organized by Stanford University.
During her time there, she witnessed Taiwan’s first presidential election and the military threats from China’s communist regime during that period. This experience sparked a deep interest in Taiwan and its global status.
In 2016, Tsai Ing-wen was elected as Taiwan’s first female president, and Hope began to explore the idea of making a documentary about Tsai. She contacted Taiwan’s presidential office, and her plan received positive feedback from the president and support from the Compton Foundation in San Francisco.
Filming for “Invisible Nation” officially began in 2017 and was completed in 2023. During this period, the production team had five opportunities to have direct conversations with Tsai, witnessing the maturation and growth of Taiwan’s democracy.
However, Hope said that many people worldwide still know very little about Taiwan and its contributions to Asia and the world. This widespread lack of awareness about the democratic nation is the inspiration behind “Invisible Nation” and the origin of its title.
At the press conference, Hope recalled that when Lee Teng-hui was sworn in as Taiwan’s president in 1996, she borrowed a camera from her teacher and captured many significant historical moments, which were later used in this documentary. Since then, she has formed an inseparable bond with Taiwan, she said.
Jabola, an independent producer who immigrated to the United States from the Philippines, told The Epoch Times that the film’s initial production focused on introducing the situation inside Taiwan. However, as the filming and production progressed, the content gradually began to include global issues.
Jabola said that due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) bullying of Taiwan, some countries have had to sever their diplomatic relations with the island. “The whole world does need to know the story because it could happen to any country,” she said.
“My impression of Taiwan is through its people,” Hope said, citing her previous landlord, Ms. Wu, as an example. She referred to Ms. Wu as an “old sister” who she stayed with during her 1995 study-abroad program in Taiwan.
At the request of The Epoch Times, Hope read a letter she received from Ms. Wu at the event:
“Last night, while watching your film, I was moved to tears several times. The democracy and prosperity in Taiwan were hard won, and your movie perfectly captures this journey. The 23 million people of Taiwan owe you, Ted, Cassandra, and your entire team immense gratitude. You had the courage to tell the truth and complete this film despite pressure from China and commercial considerations. I am so proud of you all. ‘Invisible Nation’ is strong and will only grow stronger. I hope more people will see this film so those living in the democratic society will cherish democracy more, and those fighting for democratization will find encouragement.”