TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The makers and actors of a movie based on an unsolved murder from the Martial Law era apologized Saturday for failing to consult human rights activist Lin Yi-hsiung (林義雄), who lost three members of his family in the attack.

The movie ”Bloodbath of the Century” (世紀血案) recently finished shooting in Taipei, but it came to light that the production house never contacted Lin, an opposition politician, human rights activist, and later DPP chair, the Liberty Times reported. When Lin went on trial on Feb. 28, 1980, unknown persons entered his home and killed his mother and his seven-year-old twin daughters. The case was never solved, but widespread suspicion focused on elements within the KMT’s Martial Law government.

The production houses and the actors apologized Saturday for the oversight. They said they understood that even though the murders happened 45 years ago, they amounted to an important event in Taiwan history.

The movie producers’ statement described Lin, 84, as a respected pioneer of the opposition movement. Their failure to contact him and his family early on was not due to a lack of respect, they said, adding they were willing to listen to opinions and suggestions.

The companies said the actors bore no responsibility for the missteps, as their only role was to deliver professional acting performances. Actors Nana Lee (李千娜), Candy Yang (楊小黎), and Chien Man-shu (簡嫚書) stated they were unaware the movie companies did not contact Lin to ask for his authorization to base the movie on his family’s story.

The movie was reportedly scheduled for release in Taiwan in 2027, but it was not known how the present controversy would affect plans for its release.