Taiwan’s first female Aboriginal director, Rahabou, is now announcing her upcoming feature, “The Skull Oracle,” a dark intergenerational story about Indigenous Teyal women, in Busan’s Asian project market.
This project, which traces the history of the Tayal Sharman family, explores how ancestral memories resonate with the present day by combining tribal legends, fantasy and romance. The inspiration comes from Mebow’s grandmother. That name, Laha, is carried in the family.
“I discovered that it comes from the Shaman family, but shamanism has become a taboo in our village. With this film, I want to regain the spiritual dimension we’ve lost,” Mebo tells Variety.
“The Skull Oracle” follows Zen’s dream, a female surgeon who crosses a mythical bridge formed by Hals. Following Sayan’s path, Zen travels to Japan to find the truth and accepts her spiritual heritage.
Mebow’s previous film, “Gaga,” was also a family story, winning the best director at the Golden Horse Awards.
“For me, the awards don’t change my original intentions as a filmmaker,” says Mebow. In “The Skull Oracle,” she wants to challenge herself by portraying spiritual powers through her dreams, as she is part of the traditional indigenous abilities.
Film producer Eric Lian is working on Mebou’s “Sayan Finding” and “Gaga,” and believes that Mebou could become a model and an irreplaceable voice for the cultural diversity of Taiwan’s indigenous culture.
“Throughout her career, Raha used her calm yet determined cinematic gaze to portray Indigenous culture and women’s stories with subtlety and depth,” his wife says. “We are confident that ‘The Skull Oracle’ will discover new paths within the fantasy genre and provide a refreshing and inspiring experience for viewers everywhere. ”
At APM, Liang aims to find international producers and distributors who truly understand and are willing to support Taiwan’s indigenous culture.
“Ultimately, our vision is to build an international team that combines commercial values with cultural depth, allowing ‘Skull Oracle’ to shine in the global market,” says Liang.
