Summer of Farewell

Set against the hazy, sun-drenched backdrop of a Taiwanese summer, *Summer of Farewell* is a tender and visually stunning short film that dives deep into the unspoken language of longing. Yen, a quiet and determined young man, attends his final swimming lesson at the local pool. His coach, Shuan, is a disciplined but gentle figure whose presence has become the anchor of Yen's world. Through a series of quiet, ripple-filled moments—shared glances across the water, the electric brush of fingertips during a stroke correction—their bond deepens beyond the typical coach-coachee dynamic. This is not a story of grand confessions or dramatic conflict. Instead, it captures the ache of an imminent goodbye and the profound intimacy that blooms in the space between words. Director Chu Yu-wei masterfully uses water as both a literal and emotional medium, where every lap and every breath becomes a metaphor for connection and release. With no dialogue beyond necessary exchanges, the film relies on potent visual storytelling and a hauntingly sparse piano score. *Summer of Farewell* is a melancholic, beautiful meditation on the pain of parting and the indelible mark a brief encounter can leave on the heart.