“Proves the wonderful power of a simple and resonant story told well.”

Most of us have at least one friendship formed in childhood that we remember as being amongst the most important relationships in our lives. Even if we may not have maintained those same levels of closeness as we grew older, we are likely to still regard those friendships as vital parts of our formative years. This is the primary inspiration behind Will You Still Be My Friend, a film by debut filmmaker Lu Po-Shun, who explores the intricacies of these relationships through a bittersweet story of childhood. The film is set in a small village in Taiwan, and centers on two primary characters: Jun, who was born and raised there as the grandson of the local chief, and Jasper, who has recently moved from Singapore with his parents, whose desire to expand their business brings them to this quaint location where they intend to buy some land to turn into solar farms. The two boys become fast friends, finding that they share common interests; perhaps more importantly, both feel like outsiders, struggling to connect with their peers. However, like with any friendship, there are challenges that emerge after a while (mostly to do with their families, as they come from very different backgrounds), and the duo find that it can sometimes be difficult to maintain even a close friendship without some compromise. A sincere exploration of the bond between two young protagonists who find that their friendship has to weather some storms, Will You Still Be My Friend proves to be a solid drama that may follow certain conventions, but showcases some admirable intentions.

Based on the sheer number of works that explore the subject in its many configurations, it’s safe to say that friendship is one of the more common themes in cinema, and one that can be explored endlessly considering it takes on various forms. In the case of Will You Still Be My Friend, we have a clear structure from the start: two boys from different backgrounds, one a humble son of villagers, the other coming from a wealthier class, finding their way into each other’s lives by chance and proving that childhood innocence lacks any preconceived notions of division, and that all these kids see in one another is a kindred spirit with similar interests. Lu takes this premise and expands on it throughout the film, showing Jun and Jasper as two boys who are similar in many ways, but who are ultimately forced apart as a result of external tensions that highlight the differences that they initially overlooked. It is not a film that portrays their relationship as always being easy, since they encounter personal challenges that cause considerable strain to the friendship, threatening to pull it apart at the seams. This is particularly notable in the later portions of the film, where one specific event proves to be a decisive moment, forcing the boys to question where their loyalties lie and whether they’re willing to make sacrifices for the sake of maintaining that bond. This dilemma puts their friendship at risk, and they find themselves having to choose between keeping in line with the status quo or facing the consequences that come with defiance.

Will You Still Be My Friend seems like a film that could be woefully heavy-handed, since we often find that these coming-of-age stories about characters in difficult circumstances can veer towards the overwrought. That may be the reason why these stories tend to be overlooked when discussing meaningful examinations of the human condition. Lu seems to understand this implicitly, since there are aspects of this film that actively show his efforts not to lean too heavily on familiar conventions. There is only so much that can be done with such a story without including common elements related to the coming-of-age genre, but Lu does prove to have a strong approach to the material. He avoids the clichés where possible and is not too reliant on the traditional way in which such stories tend to be told. The film frequently skirts around the edges of melodrama, but shows the appropriate amount of restraint, rarely needing to heighten the emotions, and instead settling on a nuanced, human approach that feels much more natural. There is still a strong sense of melancholy lingering over the film, especially as it reaches its climax, and it becomes clear that there will not be a neat, happy ending to this story. That seems the most appropriate way to bring it to a close, considering the underlying message is that certain friendships are not meant to last a lifetime, but rather involve finding meaning in those close connections we make over time.

While it’s not the most optimistic film on the subject of lifelong friendships, Will You Still Be My Friend is nonetheless a moving portrait of two young characters finding their way through a world that neither seems well-equipped to navigate on their own, but which becomes easier when accompanied by someone who shares their interests. The director sets out to capture the uncertainty of teenage years, looking at how these characters are actively trying to understand who they are and where they belong, which is both helped and hindered by a friendship that the film uses as an allegory for something much deeper. The friendship between Jun and Jasper emerges out of an unexpected disruption, and while they face their share of challenges (including with each other), it does give them the sense of belonging that they both desperately needed. Through addressing themes such as loyalty, the tension between traditions and modernity, and identity, the film makes some compelling statements that go deeper than just looking at the friendship between these two characters. The ambiguous conclusion may not offer the certainty that we expected, but it still communicates something meaningful about the value of the connections we make, especially those which occupy a brief but important period in our lives but are not meant to last forever, yet become a stepping stone towards the future. Lu may be telling a conventional story with Will You Still Be My Friend, but with the combination of deep sincerity, incredible restraint and some melancholic observations on the process of growing up and seeing the world through a rapidly changing perspective, the film proves the wonderful power of a simple and resonant story told well.