Artemisia

A woman who believes she chose an unconventional path in her life is startled to find her children are stepping further beyond society's boundaries. Ai-tsao is a widow who is nearly 60 years old; her husband, over twenty years her senior, has been dead for nearly two decades, and Ai-tsao's life has settled into a comfortable routine of looking after her elderly mother and doting on her two adult children. Ai-tsao was born into a conservative and exclusionist minority family. After falling in love with a much older teacher of mainland descent, she abandoned her family and eloped. Decades later, her discovery that her son is gay and that her daughter has a black boyfriend makes her question choices in her past.

Directed by Chiang Hsiu-Chiung, Artemisia leans on a strong ensemble — Pan Li-li, Mo Tzu-yi, Tang Chen-kang — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2008.