The Best of Times

Ah Wei and Ah Jie grow up together in a Hakka village on the edge of Taipei, living with their widower fathers and a chorus of local dialects. The long alley toward the village edge becomes their secret pathway to bigger dreams. Their contrasting temperaments set the stage for the adventures to come.

The alley transforms from a drab passage into a surreal world where ordinary streets morph into a fairytale set. Piglets, pigeons, and ducks magically become charming characters that guide the boys through their fantasies. This dreamlike escape contrasts with their everyday realities.

As they grow, Ah Wei and Ah Jie are pulled toward Taipei's gang life by the lure of money, thrill, and belonging. They dip their toes into a dangerous world that promises excitement but risks tearing apart their friendship. The thrill soon overshadows their earlier innocent escapades.

Ah Wei is promoted from nightclub parking valet to a debt collector for Brother Gu's gang, bringing him face-to-face with violence and pressure. Ah Jie insists on joining his friend, showcasing his impulsive streak and willingness to take reckless risks. The two boys drift deeper into the gang’s orbit.

Ah Wei’s older sister, Ah Min, battles cancer and grows increasingly weak. On the eve of her life, she decides to return to the family home she once tried to escape. She lingers in the living room, watching the aquarium's tropical fish as memories of a lost romance wash over her.

Ah Wei cares for Ah Min, sharing his youthful dreams and fantastical getaways as he wheels her around the neighborhood. Their bond offers a fragile respite from the violence outside. The aquarium motif deepens as a symbol of love and memory.

As the underworld tightens its grip, the cousins are given a handgun as a reward, a tool that amplifies risk and moral ambiguity. Ah Jie’s temper grows more volatile, turning potential opportunity into looming catastrophe. The weapon becomes a fuse for what follows.

In a debt-collection attempt, Ah Jie, driven by recklessness, shoots the big boss of the rival gang. The violence shatters the thin line between play and real danger for the two friends. They realize the price of their choices is higher than they imagined.

Fearing retaliation, Ah Wei and Ah Jie run for their lives and take refuge in Brother Tse’s house in Yilan. The change of scenery offers temporary sanctuary, but the past follows them wherever they hide. Even here, the underworld feels inescapable.

Ah Wei notices Brother Tse’s tropical fish aquarium in Yilan, mirroring the one Ah Min used to stare at. The sight reinforces the idea that the aquarium symbolizes love, memory, and a possible second chance. It binds the present danger to Ah Min’s lingering presence.

With Ah Min’s death, Ah Wei and Ah Jie must confront the consequences of their choices. They return to their village only to find the rival gang’s men still threatening them. The past disruption now threatens their future as well.

In a brutal chase, Ah Jie is shot and Ah Wei fights to escape with him. They leap into a muddy gutter, where the water turns crystal clear like Ah Min’s aquarium. The scene closes with the two friends swimming through the cleansing water, a symbol of rebirth or an uncertain next journey.