As a member of Taiwan's Seediq tribe, Umin Boya was taught at an early age that bravery is not only encouraged, but demanded. This instilled tenacity in the 36-year-old actor-turned-director and helped him carve a niche in Taiwan's movie industry. It also serves as the premise for his latest movie, "Kano."

Set in the early 1930s, during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945) when Taiwanese and aborigines were considered second-class citizens, "Kano" is based on the true story of the Kagi Agriculture and Forestry Public School's mixed-race baseball team.

The baseball team, the first of its kind in Taiwan, went from being a laughing stock for never winning a game to much-loved heroes competing in "Koshien," the most prestigious high school baseball tournament in Japan.

Wei Te-sheng produced and wrote the film. This is the third time he has delved into the complex relationship between Taiwanese and their Japanese colonizers, following his blockbusters "Cape No.7" (2007) and "Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale" (2011), in which Mr. Boya played a major role. "Kano" is Mr. Boya's debut as a movie director.

The three-hour movie has been well received by the critics and audiences in Taiwan. It earned more than NT$22 million ($725,000) in ticket sales in Taipei on its opening weekend early this month. It also got a strong reception as the opening film for the 2014 Osaka International Film Festival.