See You – Movie Review & Film Summary

Lai Chien Yu is a regular high school student in Taiwan. He lives with his parents and older brother. His closest friend is Zit, a boy he has known since childhood. Zit recently hurt his leg, and Chien Yu teases him about it. One afternoon, they spent time at the beach. Chien Yu accuses Zit of pretending to be injured. Zit grins and runs off, showing his leg is fine. Chien Yu chases after him, both of them laughing playfully. It feels like any other day, but it becomes their last moment together.

On an ordinary day, Chien Yu tries to contact Zit. However, he gets no reply. Zit isn't at home and ignores his text messages. Later, Chien Yu hears terrible news. Zit has gone missing. His shoes are found by the sea, neatly placed on the rocks. Zit's family searches the shore, calling his name again and again. They wonder whether he might have slipped while playing in the water. Yet, everyone senses a darker thought they cannot voice. Whether by accident or choice, Zit has vanished into the sea.

As the search continues, Chien Yu is stunned to see Zit standing before him. His friend looks the same, smiling as if nothing happened. Zit raises his hands and signs a message, but Chien Yu cannot understand the meaning. No one else seems to notice Zit. Is he a ghost or a hallucination? Chien Yu has no explanation. That night, he returns home, and Zit quietly follows. Zit still cannot speak, yet he continues to use sign language to communicate with his friend. Chien Yu is frustrated because he doesn't understand what Zit wants to convey.

The next day, Chien Yu tries to return to his regular routine and prepares for school. Zit's spirit remains by his side. Zit acts strangely, running into traffic and dancing between cars. Chien Yu stares in shock as no one reacts. The drivers pass through Zit as if he isn't there. At school, Zit keeps teasing him, making it hard to focus. To the teacher and classmates, Chien Yu appears to be talking to himself. Chien Yu must cope with the strange reality that only he can see Zit and react to his antics.

Chien Yu's teacher stays positive and asks the class to fold paper cranes for Zit's safe return. She checks on Chien Yu often, telling him that Zit will be found. One classmate, Yu Shin, is less hopeful. She asks Chien Yu why Zit jumped into the sea, but he has no answer. At home, Chien Yu's brother introduces him to Ah Hao, an older student who knows sign language. Chien Yu and Ah Hao grow close. With Ah Hao's help, Chien Yu hopes to understand Zit's coded message and uncover the secrets his friend never shared.

In See You, the protagonist lost his best friend very suddenly. What happened to him? Did he take his own life? We don't know for sure. This movie is intriguing because it won't spell everything out for the viewers. The characters are secretive and don't express their true feelings. Their conversations seem cryptic, often dancing around the truth. To understand the story, we must read between the lines and consider what is left unsaid. The filmmaker makes us analyze each scene, and even then, we still won't have all the answers.

As someone who has watched many gay dramas, I had an idea of what Zit's "secret" might be. However, it takes Chien Yu a while to discover and process everything. The plot develops slowly, which could frustrate some viewers. The film's vagueness may also annoy you. Chien Yu won't ask the right questions, Zit doesn't reply honestly, and their communication struggles persist throughout the story. Luckily, I was in the right mood for an artsy and angsty movie, so I enjoyed all the ambiguity. Coded messages? Unspoken feelings? Hidden gay subtext between two tormented friends? Oh yes, bring it on!

Zit goes missing. Then, he returns as a spirit only Chien Yu can see. Is he a ghost? A hallucination? The story never clarifies, but my theory is that he symbolizes Chien Yu's grief. Losing a friend hurts him deeply. These visions become his way of coping and making sense of a scary situation. The movie uses its supernatural plot to explore the themes of loss and trauma. One of my favourite scenes is when Chien Yu talks to a guidance counsellor. On the surface, he jokes and speaks lightly about Zit. Beneath the humour, he's holding on to a memory and mourning his friend.

Those looking for a sweet love story might be disappointed by See You. Although the film features gay characters, it offers little romantic content. As a BL watcher, I wished for less subtle longing and more overt affection. While the film focuses on unspoken feelings and unrequited love, it still delivers a few tender moments between the leads. I adore scenes like the one where Chien Yu performs a song in sign language for Zit. Their quiet chat by the sea also stands out. The moonlight, the sound of the waves, and Zit almost confessing create a beautifully intimate mood.

Chien Yu's actor (Matt Kuo) shows some inexperience, especially during the emotional scenes. Even so, he shares a natural rapport with his costar (Ray Yang), whose gentle expressions capture Zit's quiet vulnerability. My favourite is Ah Hao's performer (Joseph Huang), whom I recognized from Dear Ex. Honestly, I would have preferred a gay love story about Ah Hao and Chien Yu's brother (played by the attractive Li Zhen Hao). Joseph brings solid acting skills. Zhen Hao has a telegenic screen presence. And together, they would've made a compelling pair as the leads.

See You finishes poignantly. The conclusion is subtle, reflective, and philosophical, much like the rest of the story. Still, I'm weary of how often Taiwanese cinema leans on the "bury your gays" trope. I've seen too many sad, repressed characters. Instead, I want a filmmaker to create a gay movie that doesn't end in tragedy. That said, my criticism is less about this film and more about the industry as a whole. Overall, I have a favourable opinion of See You for its quiet introspection and emotional depth. It follows the familiar mould of a sad gay movie, but it does so thoughtfully.