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I don’t usually blog about movies unless when given exclusive premiere invites but I will make an exception for this recent one which I nearly missed out on: “You are the Apple of My Eye” (那些年，我們一起追的女孩) directed by Giddens Ko.

What would be your most fondest memory from your school days? I’m sure for most of us, it would be our first ever crush. This film aims to build on pieces of your life from those days.

Adolescence is like a heavy rain. Even though you catch a cold from it, you still look forward to experiencing it again.

The Taiwanese film tells a story of how 5 guys (including the director) tried their utmost best in wooing the belle of their class; Shen Chia-Yi and ultimately falling short but not without gaining invaluable life lessons along the way.

This is the main cast of the film and the plot revolved mainly around Ko Ching-Teng and Shen Chia-Yi (3rd and 4th from the left). However unlike most films out there, there is a degree of introduction into the background of the other characters too.

One of the things the film did very well in was to recreate the nostalgic atmosphere and setting of the director’s schooling days. It certainly flung me back to my time in secondary school with even the faintest of memories ignited.

Back then, did you think you were at the top of the world, not giving a care to anything or anyone? While lessons were going on, you would be munching on bread and reading your favorite manga or even texting on the phone. Nobody could be the boss of you then.

Suddenly, your nonchalant attitude and everything else takes a slow 360 degrees turn for the better when you gradually fall in love with a classmate.

She is not the prettiest, just your slightly above average girl but she is already the darling of your heart and irreplaceable. There is just something about her which gets your hearts racing on its own.  She has what we call this the X-factor and there is no explanation for it. She has just become your motivation and pivot in life.

You start having a totally different mentality and outlook, doing things you never liked with never before seen enthusiasm just so to impress her and look better in her eyes.

Much was put into developing the relationship between Ko-Teng and Shen Chia-Yi through the different phases of their lives and the entire flow of the plot was very well put together.

There are many life-lessons we could take away from this film. One of them is to be bold enough to pursue what we hold most dearly even if rejection might smack us in the face. How things would have been different if Ko-Teng had done just that. Opportunities knock on our door just once, we have to act on them without fear or we could only live to regret it.

We would then be wishing we could turn back time so we could have done things differently and change the outcome.

This film stirs emotions and I believe many of us could relate to it. Despite how touching and moving it was, I did not cry but my heart did went thumping and feelings could be felt running through my skin. When that happens, I know that this film has struck a nerve.

I’m usually very stingy with ratings but “You are the Apple of My Eye” (那些年，我們一起追的女孩) is probably the best movie I have caught all year. It is for keeps and definitely a must watch. I might even consider buying the DVD when it comes out, just so I can watch it again.

darran.sg rating of You are the Apple of My Eye (5/5):