A small Taiwanese town loses its innocence after Lin-Wen, an opportunistic ex-teacher convinces his fellow villagers to allow American and Taiwanese troops to perform maneuvers in their area by informing them that the government will pay for the resulting damage. The townsfolk, in need of money agree to it, but Lin-Wen has another agenda for bringing in the American army -- he is hoping that American army surgeons will be able to re-attach the fingers of his young brother, who lost them in a Japanese-owned factory. Ever since it happened, Lin-Wen has kept his brother's fingers pickled in a jar. But as this Taiwanese satire is designed as an exercise in irony, nothing goes quite the way Lin-Wen had hoped and ultimately, his first encounter with Western culture leaves a bitter aftertaste. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide