Artemisia
Ai Chao means Artemisia. It's also the name of this film's protagonist — a 58-year-old Taiwanese woman. When Ai Chao was young, without her mother's approval, she married her mainland-born husband, who was 20 years…
In the heart of Taiwan, *Artemisia* weaves a tender, multi-generational tapestry centered on Ai Chao, a 58-year-old woman whose quiet resilience anchors her family through life’s upheavals. When she was young, she defied her disapproving mother to marry a mainland-born husband—a choice that shaped her fierce, unconditional love for her own children. Now, her adult son, Sung Hai, harbors a secret romance with a kind, supportive boyfriend, while her daughter returns from abroad as a single mother with a mixed-race child, challenging the family’s closely held traditions. Ai Chao must navigate her mother’s sharp-tongued bigotry, her son’s hesitant coming-out journey, and her daughter’s unapologetic choices, all while seeking her own late-in-life education and self-worth. More than a gay romance, this film is a poignant exploration of motherhood, identity, and acceptance across three generations. With authentic performances—especially Morning Mo (later of *Dear Tenant*) as the gay son—and a gentle, unhurried pace, *Artemisia* offers a deeply human story that celebrates the messy, beautiful ways love persists despite societal pressure.