THE FELLOW WHO REFUSED COLLEGE (2K RESTORATION)

One of the Top 10 Mandarin-language films of 1980

Set against the backdrop of rising social competition in 1970s Taiwan, this film explores the struggles of youth in defining their future. WU Hsiang-hui, a top student at Taipei’s prestigious Chien Kuo High School, surprises his teachers and father by choosing not to sit the university entrance exam. Instead, he decides to fulfil his mandatory military service before entering the workforce. His decision challenges conventional expectations and prompts reflection on societal values. His romantic interest, LIN Wei-wei, torn between love and her mother’s academic demands, chooses to part ways until the exams are over. The film also follows other students: a determined classmate living with polio, a peer who opts for a military academy, and a senior whose repeated attempts at medical school lead to a breakdown. The film blends warmth and humour to portray the laughter, pressures, and ideals of school life, offering a vivid portrait of Taiwanese youth navigating life choices in an era shaped by educational ambition.