Director Leste Chen offers this sweet, poignant film about young people on the edge of growing up and coming to terms with very adult emotions and desires. Bryant Chang won the Golden Horse Award (Taiwan’s equivalent of the Academy Award) for Best New Performer for his portrayal of Jonathan, whose friendship with Shane (Joseph Chang) is the focus of this film.

When a new girl at school, Carrie (Kate Yeung), shows amorous interest in both boys, it serves as a catalyst for them to examine exactly how much they love each other and just what they mean when they call each other “best friends.”

Slow at times, the story is still compelling. The film is subtitled, but the fact that you almost don’t need them is a tribute to the subtle, expressive acting style of the three young stars.

Grade: B+

Eternal Summer is currently available.