Artemisia poster
#11684 This Week

Artemisia

Artemisia  ·  2008, Taiwan
6.6
2,989 ratings
1
Film
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2008

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…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

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.

Episode data is coming soon.

6.6
out of 10
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BF
bl_family_fan
March 2025
8/10
I went in expecting a typical BL romance but was blown away by how deeply the family story affected me. Sung Hai and his boyfriend have such a gentle, realistic relationship—the scene where they discuss coming out felt so true. And Ai Chao’s love for her son? Absolutely beautiful. The ending left me wanting more, but I still cried happy tears.
PL
plot_logic_guru
July 2024
6/10
SL
social_lens_viewer
November 2025
7/10
This film tackles intersectional family struggles—homophobia, racism, and generational trauma—with surprising nuance. The great-grandmother is a brilliantly written villain, embodying the worst of traditional prejudice. However, I wish the son’s boyfriend had more agency; he feels a bit like a prop for Sung Hai’s journey. Still, a valuable watch for anyone interested in queer representation beyond the couple.
AL
aesthetic_lens_queer
February 2024
9/10
The visual storytelling in Artemisia is understated but so effective—the warm lighting in Ai Chao’s kitchen, the framing of family meals, and the quiet shots of Taipei streets all add to the emotional weight. The tai chi scene near the end is simply breathtaking. Not a flashy film, but every frame feels intentional and intimate.
ML
momo_love_forever
October 2025
5/10
I wanted to love this because Morning Mo is fantastic, but the movie wastes his talent. The gay storyline gets sidelined by the daughter’s drama, and the open ending feels like a cop-out. Plus, the grandmother’s bigotry, while realistic, is played for laughs too often—it undercuts the seriousness. Disappointing.