You Are the Apple of My Eye

Set inside a private high school, the story follows a tight circle of friends whose lives orbit the cheerful Shen Chia-yi, the sunlit center of their days. Ko Ching-teng insists he isn t chasing a crush at all, but the bright glare of Shen Chia-yi's presence makes him reexamine every joke, every dare, and every quiet moment they share. As the group heads toward adulthood, feelings deepen and awkwardness gives way to honesty, even as friendship keeps pulling them back. The film charts first love with warmth and humor, balancing playful mischief with the ache of growing up and letting go. The film keeps a brisk tempo, mixing witty banter with tender moments that linger.

Directed by Giddens Ko, this 2011 Taiwanese romance marks his breakout feature. It draws on Ko's own ideas for a high school love story, presented as an original screenplay rather than an adaptation. Kai Ko and Michelle Chen lead.

Since its release it resonated with a generation drawn to first love and the ups and downs of teenage friendship. The film helped launch Kai Ko as a rising star and boosted Michelle Chen's profile, contributing to a wave of Taiwanese youth cinema that mixes humor with feeling. Its blend of humor and nostalgia became a touchstone for many fans of campus romance and a new generation of storytellers.

Critics framed it as a sharp, affectionate look at how longing colors everyday life and friendships. The film balances playful banter with honest emotion, turning a high school crush into a meditation on memory and the ways youth shapes the adults we become. Audiences connected to its honesty about imperfect youths and the way memory shapes decisions long after the credits roll.

Box office details are not widely reported; the movie drew strong attention in Taiwan and among fans of youth cinema, helping to elevate its breakout cast while attracting a broader audience across Asia, festival viewings amplified its profile.