The 2010 Taiwan International Documentary Festival opened in Taichung last weekend, with 140 entries scheduled for screening, including the latest work of local director Kuo Liang-yin, which depicts the plight of thousands of ex-soldiers who were ignored by the government for half a century.

In 1949, an era of turmoil was not over as General Sun Li-Jen established Army Training Command in Taiwan with the goal of training new army cadres in Taiwan.

A total of 4,500 Taiwanese youth joined.

When it came time for reporting to camp, many people were disappointed as they were squeezed into army barracks that were converted warehouses with food below their expectations.

Both enlistees and cadre members had different accents with training taking place in Kaohsiung's Wei Wu Camp. After 6 months, these enlistees were allowed to return to their hometowns with no work organized, as some people began to flee.

In August 1950, many received their discharge to go home and rest.

And in 1955, General Sun Li-Jen was put under house arrest by the government, ushering in a period of martial law as few dared mention this party of history. The image of these young men waiting to become waiting to become retired veterans for nearly 50 years, until 2000 when they finally received their veterans card. By 2010, one-third of these 4500 members have passed away.

The government had agreed to subsidize them though the bill was stuck in the Legislative Yuan as this film directed by Kuo Lan-Ying is there story, turned into the documentary "Suspended Duty" which is a finalist in the Taiwan International Documentary Festival as well as the Tenth South Taiwan Film Festival.

The film educates local people about a group of people that have been forgotten by history.