Buddha Bless America

Linda Li

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Set in southern Taiwan during the '60s, BUDDHA BLESS AMERICA is the account of a small village exchanging one yoke--the Japanese occupation--for another two: the Nationalist government of Mainland China and the U.S., its military ally. Under the Japanese, you might lose your fingers in a factory accident without so much as an apology. Under the Nationalists, people get screwed out of everything, even a straight translation. Under the Americans, well, folks aren't quite sure what to expect, due to the language barrier and hostile Mainlander translators.

"Brains", the most educated man in the village, is an enthusiastic cheerleader for American know-how and panache. But when U.S. troops are stationed in their midst to conduct anti-Communist war exercises, the villagers are by turns inflamed, spooked and yet intoxicated by their firsthand encounters with Americans.

Wu's extensive screenwriting career includes working with Taiwan's New Cinema filmmakers Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang.

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