Sheng-mei Ma’s analysis of the 2019 film *Detention* reveals how it revisits Taiwan’s White Terror period to explore ongoing tensions regarding identity. The film examines the complex relationship between Chineseness, Taiwaneseness, and the lingering impact of Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan. *Detention* uses the story of Fang, a character with a mixed family background, to connect political repression with deeply personal struggles. Religious practices and the character’s involvement with a forbidden Study Group further illuminate these connections. The narrative intertwines political conflict with themes of love, resentment, and betrayal. Ultimately, the film highlights unresolved historical traumas within Taiwan and their impact on contemporary society.