As university entrance examinations approach, Hsiang-hui appears destined for academic success. Yet growing doubts about the values and expectations that surround him lead him to reject the path laid out by society. His decision reverberates through friendships, first love, and the uncertain transition into adulthood, transforming a personal choice into a broader act of questioning.

Adapted from Wu Hsiang-hui's bestselling autobiographical novel, The Fellow Who Rejected College was a landmark success that marked a turning point for Taiwanese youth cinema. It helped pave the way for high school films that flourished throughout the 1980s and beyond, capturing the concerns of a generation shaped by intense educational and social expectations. Co-written by Wu Nien-jen, who would later become one of the defining creative voices of New Taiwan Cinema through his collaborations with Hou Hsiao-hsien and others, the film blends youthful idealism with keen social observation. Its quiet spirit of rebellion reveals a Taiwanese cinema on the cusp of transformation.

The Director's Cut includes a new ending theme song and an end-credits scroll.

*Restored in 2025 by the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute