Invisible Nation: A Democracy in Focus

Release Date：May/24/2025

Genre：Documentary

Director：Vanessa Hope

Cast：Chu Chen、Yu-jie Chen、Bi-Khim Hsiao、Michelle Kuo、Freddy Lim、Wen Liu

Viola's Rating：8.4

While the Russian invasion of Ukraine carries on into its fourth year, an island often erased from the map is also facing a potential war threat, and its people are confronting a crisis of national identity. American director Vanessa Hope captures Taiwan’s democratic development, from the election of its first female president to its current period of reflection, in her documentary feature Invisible Nation, which received a limited US release on May 24, 2025.

This documentary follows the presidency of Taiwan's first female president, Ing-Wen Tsai, and centers a portrait of this constantly colonized island as it struggles to preserve its hard-won democracy, autonomy, and freedom from the looming fear of authoritarian aggression. 

Audrey Tang, one of Taiwan’s current Ambassadors-at-Larges and former Minister of Digital Affairs during the production, invokes lyrics from Canadian novelist, poet, singer, and songwriter Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem” to inspire Taiwanese people to never give up hope and to fight for what they believe in while they still can.

In addition to Audrey Tang and Ing-Wen Tsai, Invisible Nation features several other female politicians to reflect the normalcy of women in Taiwanese politics, including current Legislator Pei-Yi Wu, President of the Control Yuan Chu Chen, and Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao. A few shots of former Vice President Annette Lu (Hsiu-Lien Lu) appear alongside President Tsai.

Invisible Nation tells its story from a historical perspective, serving as a kind of “History 101” for foreigners or those unfamiliar with Taiwan’s complex past. From its history of colonization to the evolving identity of its residents and the external threats it faces, the film lays out the full picture.

While Invisible Nation is generally neutral, it still reflects a certain ideology and does not offer a fully balanced representation of all views held by people in Taiwan. For example, although most citizens today identify as Taiwanese, there are still those who see themselves as Chinese and dream of eventual reunification with China, whether as the Republic of China (Taiwan) or the People’s Republic of China.

Nonetheless, Invisible Nation does an impressive job showcasing Taiwan’s inclusiveness, whether as an island or a nation. In Taiwan, musicians can become politicians, same-sex marriage has been legalized, making it the first region in Asia to do so, and vibrant civic movements and protests occur peacefully. The flick faithfully captures all these invaluable facets of life in Taiwan.

All in all, Invisible Nation is an honest and thoughtful observation from a foreigner’s point of view. It is a must-watch for every global citizen and every Taiwanese person seeking to understand the beauty, democracy, and freedom of this island, which is indeed a nation.

Picture Credit: IMDb