Since watching the film “Seeing Taiwan,” I’ve always felt Taiwan’s film environment, well, to quote Ko Wen-je, is strange. I always wonder whether Taiwan’s TV channels are insufficient, causing TV-grade imagery to get shown in movie theaters (obviously not).
Every director claims they spent more than a decade preparing their film. Then each film’s box office supposedly breaks records by the hundreds of millions (related corruption possibly related to certain zombie-like director’s Facebook exposé).
Actually it’s understandable thinking behind these directors—they probably believe this publicity gets citizens thinking a masterpiece’s coming, then collective idiocy drives hordes to the theater behaving like masters.
🦅 “Eagles Want to Fly”: Support’s Background
“Eagles Want to Fly” is currently playing—around me, friends dragging families to theaters to “support” this “film” whether because of “supporting domestic films,” “supporting wildlife conservation,” “supporting exhausted ecological researchers,” or even “loving Taiwan”—all reasons.
But truly ask what “Eagles Want to Fly“‘s core spirit is?
Honestly, except for earnestly grabbing hands saying we must protect ecology, most can’t explain why. They all came to “support” something, even official promotion matches. For creators, this groupthink is worst, exploiting sympathy.
I don’t think “Eagles Want to Fly” qualifies as a “film”—playing it in theaters is waste, spending money unnecessary. Under commercial exploitation, I’d prefer everyone directly donate to regional bird societies, helping bird societies have sufficient funding for bird rescue and conservation.
Lacking Wu Nian-zhen’s magnetic narration, lacking Lin Qiang’s moving score, lacking those few forced aerial cinematography effects—“Eagles Want to Fly” is just tedious ecological footage from Taiwan’s small island’s perspective.
Even if the director took it to Discovery or National Geographic channels, might still get consideration for copyright purchase.
The characteristics I mentioned are already fully shown in previews, which explains why one filmmaker previously said preview content already captures 70% of a film’s essence.
Actually if you’ve read lots of online commentary about this documentary, you’d notice everyone mostly praises Wu Nian-zhen’s beautiful narration, Lin Qiang’s beautiful score, and nothing else.
Were I a film director and needed emotional manipulation to draw people to theaters, I’d return to the countryside ideating more emotionally compelling works.
💡 More Meaningful Action Suggestions
If you’re a viewer without documentary-watching habits—who gets sleepy watching documentaries (only specialists in related fields enjoy them)—I suggest you spend time personally outdoors watching eagles actually flying, save money and donate to relevant bird societies, and channel one-time sentiment into daily ecological reflection in ordinary life.