Starting her career under the best mentors, including directors Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-Hsien, and after co-directing the critically acclaimed Artemisia, Taiwanese director Chiang Hsiu Chiung is back with her debut film, The Furthest End Awaits. Although it is only the second feature film has collaborated on, she has taken part in several omnibus projects, made short films, and co-directed to prove her skills as a filmmaker. We can also see the influence of her mentors as she constructs a sensitive portrayal of the value of family in today’s society. Set at the edge of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, with its beautiful scenic views, the film revolves around two women from different backgrounds who develop a friendship, and how they begin to influence and change each other’s lives. (PARK Jinhee)