Much like in the stories of the 700,000 other migrant workers in Taiwan, the Vietnamese man NGUYEN Quoc Phi, who enjoyed singing, became a runaway worker in the ugly and complex migrant worker system. With his expertise in construction work, he was a leader of a group of migrants working in Hsinchu. He dreamed of saving up enough money so he could start his own business back in his home country.
Unfortunately, one day in 2017 NGUYEN was reported for a car theft and ended up being shot nine times by police officer CHEN Chung-wen. NGUYEN bled to death on the way to the hospital. The Taiwanese public supported CHEN’s use of firearms against the runaway migrant, who was resisting arrest and had convictions for drug use. Were the nine shots the only cause of NGUYEN’s death? When the perpetrator isn’t necessarily the true perpetrator, is the imperfect victim the one to blame?
Content warning: graphic violence
See You, Lovable Strangers (2016) — co-directed with Ngyuen Kim Hong), Sunflower Occupation (2014), Lovable Strangers (2013) — co-directed with Ngyuen Kim Hong), The Other Side (2012), Killing in Formosa 3 (2009), Surviving Evil (2008), Nai-Lon (2006), The Last Revolt (2005), Marriages on the Borders (2003), My Imported Bride (2003), My Imported Wife (2003), Behind the Miracle (2002), Killing in Formosa 2 (2002), Between Men and Whale (2001), Taipei Licensed Prostitutes (2001), Killing in Formosa (2000)