Formosa (1922): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1922, Formosa is a documentary film directed by Herford T. Cowling, running about 7 minutes.

What it’s about. Formosa depicts the landscapes, architecture, customs, culture, agriculture, natural scenery, Indigenous peoples, and colonial traces of Taiwan during the period of Japanese rule. It also reflects how the world at that time perceived and imagined Taiwan. This film is the earliest known surviving motion picture shot in and about Taiwan. This introductory documentary was donated as a duplicate print by the Netherlands Filmmuseum (now Eye Filmmuseum) in 1991. According to the museum’s records, the nitrate print dates to approximately 1922. However, based on the research of scholar Lee Daw-ming, the film may have been shot as early as 1917 by Herford T. Cowling. The exact date when the original positive film was produced and its subsequent whereabouts remain unknown. Formosa is preserved and presented by the Taiwan Film & Audiovisual Institute in 2025.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Formosa has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Formosa page.

If you liked it. Fans of Formosa tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.