I had to hang with the film for a while before it started to pay off. Until then, it sort of felt like a well-funded political action thriller directed and constructed somewhat less than professionally.
In the end, you could do worse if you dig political action. But lapses in narrative work and character development prevent me from calling this a truly fine film.
I live in Taiwan. I have to say that the film rather does succeed in putting some faces and blood and sweat and tears behind the bits of history that I've learned since I came here.
If you're thinking of renting it, I'd recommend at least a quick peruse of some online materials related to Taiwan in the post-War period, up to the time depicted (the '80s).