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Documentary
A documentary series tracing Taiwan's 400-year journey through Indigenous history, colonization, migration, conflict, authoritarian rule, democratization, and the forces that shaped the island today.
An examination of Taiwan's earliest inhabitants, focusing on its Indigenous Austronesian peoples, their origins, migration patterns, social structures, and the cultural foundations that shaped the island prior to sustained external contact.
Taiwan becomes a site of European colonial competition in the 17th century, as Dutch and Spanish forces establish footholds on the island. Trade, missionary activity, Indigenous resistance, and conflicts between rival powers shape this early colonial period.
In 1661, Ming loyalist forces led by Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) arrive in Taiwan and lay siege to the Dutch stronghold at Fort Zeelandia. The conflict results in the end of Dutch rule and the establishment of a new regime, reshaping the island's political landscape.
By the late 17th century, Taiwan comes under Qing rule and develops as a frontier shaped by migration from mainland China. Settlement, land disputes, Indigenous resistance, and periodic unrest characterize this period, as imperial authorities struggle to govern a distant and unstable region.
From 1895 to 1945, Taiwan is governed as a Japanese colony, undergoing modernization in infrastructure, industry, and administration. The period is also marked by policing, assimilation policies, and resistance among local and Indigenous populations.
From the late 1940s through the 1980s, Taiwan is governed under martial law during the period known as the White Terror. Political repression, including arrests, military tribunals, and surveillance, affects civil society following the February 28 Incident, shaping daily life and limiting dissent. The era ends with gradual political liberalization and the beginnings of Taiwan's transition toward democracy.
After 1949, the Chinese Civil War results in two competing governments, with the Republic of China based in Taiwan and the People's Republic of China on the mainland. Under Chiang Kai-shek and later Chiang Ching-kuo, Taiwan develops as a political and military center amid Cold War tensions. Disputes over sovereignty, diplomatic recognition, and international status define this period.
Following the end of martial law in the late 1980s, Taiwan begins a transition from authoritarian rule to democratic governance. Political reforms, opposition movements, and expanding civil participation reshape the political system, leading to competitive elections and greater representation.
Taiwan's role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing becomes central to global supply chains, shaping its economic and strategic position. The concept of the "Silicon Shield" emerges, as technological importance influences deterrence, security considerations, and geopolitical dynamics.
Taiwan's present-day position is shaped by its role in global supply chains, strategic importance in regional security, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Economic development, international relations, and debates over political status and identity define its place in the modern world.
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China: The Making of a Nation is the story of the painful transformation of the vast Qing Empire into the Chinese nation after the 1911 revolution. Spanning more than a century up to the Xi Jinping era, the story pits the two pivotal leaders of this transformation against each other: Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Republic of China for 47 years, and Mao Zedong, who rose from ‘red bandit’ to master of the mainland in 1949. Sworn enemies, they fought a merciless battle: first military, then diplomatic, and finally, beyond their deaths, in the conflicting memories of the Taiwanese and the Chinese of the People's Republic. Beyond their fierce hatred, the two tyrants also had much in common: a certain vision of Chinese territory and the greatness of China, the desire to regain the country's sovereignty and the quest for a Chinese identity in a nation that also includes Tibetans, Uighurs, Mongols... and a certain ability to rewrite history.
Enredos da Liberdade – O Grito do Samba Pela Democracia is a Brazilian documentary series available on Globoplay that delves into the pivotal role of samba schools during Brazil's transition from military dictatorship to democracy in the 1980s. Spanning five episodes, the series showcases how samba-enredo compositions became powerful tools of political resistance, addressing themes like censorship, economic hardship, and racial inequality. Through rare archival footage and interviews with prominent figures such as Martinho da Vila, Leci Brandão, and Rosa Magalhães, the documentary highlights the creative defiance of these cultural institutions. Each episode concludes with a reimagined performance of a significant samba, featuring artists like Teresa Cristina and Mart’nália, underscoring the enduring impact of these musical expressions in Brazil's democratic journey.
The dramatic story of America's national mammal, which sustained the lives of Native people for untold generations, being driven to the brink of extinction, before an unlikely collection of people rescues it from disappearing forever. Ken Burns recounts the tragic collision of two opposing views of the natural world—and the unforgettable characters who pointed the nation in a different direction.
Taiwan is famous for its night market street food and delicious cuisine, especially its spicy Sichuan-style dishes, such as duck blood, taro with pork intestine, pineapple shrimp balls, and three-cup chicken, which are popular with locals and tourists alike. In this program, the hosts lead the audience on a culinary adventure, visiting renowned Taiwanese restaurants and popular spots recommended by local foodies. Along the way, they learn from the restaurant owners and top chefs, and provide tips for viewers to recreate authentic Taiwanese dishes at home.
