Ocean Elegy: The Tragedies of Mudan and Ryukyu directed by Sean Hao Hsiang HU will open the Cinema at Sea – Okinawa Pan-Pacific International Film Festival which will take place from February 22 – March 2, 2025 in Okinawa, Japan.

Open Ceremony
February 22, 2025 | Saturday | Sakurazaka Theater Hall A | 18:30 pm

Ocean Elegy: The Tragedies of Mudan and Ryukyu by Sean Hao Hsiang HU – Taiwan | 2025 – 102 minutes | World Premiere

Opening Film is the World Premiere of the documentary Ocean Elegy: The Tragedies of Mudan and Ryukyu (『青海原の先ー牡丹と琉球の悲歌』), using archival materials, interviews and reenactments, to uncovers the 1870s Mudan Incident. Directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Sean HU (胡皓翔), the project took seven years to complete.

In 1871, a ship traveling from Miyako Island to Shuri to deliver annual tribute was caught in a storm and drifted to southern Taiwan. Onboard were 69 Ryukyuan passengers who reached an area inhabited by the Paiwan people. However, some Ryukyuans were killed in a tragic incident that later became known as the Mudan Incident. This event was used as a pretext for Japan’s invasion of Taiwan (the 1874 Taiwan Expedition) and also influenced Japan’s annexation of Ryukyu, significantly shaping the geopolitical landscape of East Asia.

About the director:
Sean Hao Hsiang HU, the founder of HawStudio, is an accomplished director and screenwriter. He gained recognition as the youngest winner of the 27th Golden Harvest Awards with his work “Stopover”. After university, he received support from renowned directors Ang Lee and Khan Lee through the “Project Pushing Hands,” which led to the creation of Taiwan’s first micro-movie “Undying Legend,” heralding a new era for internet-centric films. Hu continues to leverage his vast experience in film production, directing numerous projects for international corporations such as Google, YouTube, and Getac, with his creative footprint spanning across the globe.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cinema-at-sea.com/en