Minister Yiong shared that the backdrop of this drama is the White Terror period. Political prisoners sent to Green Island, known as “Burning Island” at the time, included many outstanding physicians and intellectuals who were oppressed and arrested for their ideas, forced to lead toilsome lives in the harsh environment of the isolated island. The show, however, focuses on their contributions during their period of imprisonment, as they shared their medical and other expertise. This bears witness to the ideological development of Taiwanese elites of the era, seeking ways to survive and prosper under political repression. It is hoped that the wider public will enjoy and support this multilingual period drama.
Inspired on Mr. Green Island, Black Tide Island is Hakka TV’s flagship show, gathering cross-agency resources. With an original script by Go Inside Ltd., it is set in 1950 during the outbreak of the Korean War. As democracy and communism clashed in this tumultuous global environment, individuals in the top 1% of Taiwan’s population were banished to “Burning Island”, caught in the conflict of the times. Nevertheless, they brought medicine, education, advanced agriculture, engineering, and art to the island. The bleak conditions made them grow stronger, while they sacrificed their youth to make Green Island a better place to live.
Black Tide Island has a strong cast with Wang Shih-hsien, River Huang, Akira Tsao Yu-ning, Wu Nien-hsuan, and Hsia Teng-hung in the leading roles. Not only did the actors impress everyone with their newly-learned Hakka at the press conference, but they also opened up about their feelings participating in this large production. Other than the Hakka, they had to learn a number of new skills such as cooking, playing the violin, and painting. The show is expected to air next year.
