And Deliver Us from Evil 2001
Si Yabosokanen's *And Deliver Us from Evil* (2001) is a poignant documentary that explores the collision between tradition and modernity in Taiwan's Orchid Island (Lanyu).
Director: Si Yabosokanen
Frequently Asked Questions
What is And Deliver Us from Evil (2001) about?
This documentary follows a nurse on Taiwan's Orchid Island who spearheads a volunteer effort to care for elderly residents abandoned due to local beliefs that illness stems from evil spirits. The film captures the emotional and cultural tensions between ancient traditions and modern compassion.
Who directed And Deliver Us from Evil?
The film was directed by Si Yabosokanen, a filmmaker whose work often focuses on indigenous communities and social change.
Who stars in And Deliver Us from Evil?
The documentary centers on an unnamed nurse (the filmmaker herself) and features 40 volunteers who joined her initiative to care for isolated patients.
Is And Deliver Us from Evil (2001) worth watching?
Though unrated on IMDb, this short but powerful documentary offers a rare glimpse into the clash between tradition and progress. Its intimate storytelling and themes of resilience make it compelling for fans of ethnographic films and social justice narratives.
How long is And Deliver Us from Evil?
The runtime for And Deliver Us from Evil is 55 minutes.
About And Deliver Us from Evil (2001) — How compassion challenged tradition on Taiwan's Orchid Island
Si Yabosokanen's *And Deliver Us from Evil* (2001) is a poignant documentary that explores the collision between tradition and modernity in Taiwan's Orchid Island (Lanyu). The film follows the filmmaker, a local nurse, as she launches a groundbreaking 1997 initiative to care for elderly residents shunned by their community due to deep-rooted Taoist beliefs that illness stems from evil spirits. Against fierce social resistance, a team of 40 volunteers defies isolation and stigma to provide medical support, revealing a gripping human drama where compassion clashes with cultural dogma. Shot in intimate, observational style, the documentary immerses viewers in the rugged beauty of Lanyu and the quiet heroism of those bridging ancient fears with modern healthcare.
The atmosphere is both tender and tense, capturing raw moments of vulnerability as patients and caregivers navigate an unspoken pact—one that challenges centuries-old traditions while affirming the universal need for dignity. With its focus on indigenous resilience and systemic change, *And Deliver Us from Evil* transcends its 55-minute runtime to deliver a moving portrait of progress and the personal cost of transformation.