Is Fish Pond Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2022)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Fish Pond, a standout production of 2022, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the TV Movie, Drama landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into University student Hsu-hao longs for love. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of TV Movie, Drama are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "University student Hsu-hao longs for love. He subscribes to the “fish pond theory”, believing that he should spend time with and compare many different girls before choosing the right one. One night, Hsu-hao comes across a girl named “Koi” on a dating app and they hit it off, but the app does not match them. As he begins searching for her, a classmate recommends that he use the “Rent a Girlfriend” service. Hsu-hao ends up having a great Valentine’s Day with a girl from the service, and despite still wanting to kind Koi, he becomes inexplicably attracted to this new girl…"

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Despite the inherent talent of Wu Nien-hsuan, the performance in Fish Pond feels somewhat constrained by a narrative framework that doesn't fully exploit their range. There are flashes of brilliance, but the overall impact is muted.

The direction by Yi-Ling Wang is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 87 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Fish Pond truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of TV Movie, Drama, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Fish Pond explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2022 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Yi-Ling Wang respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Fish Pond is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Wu Nien-hsuan or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Fish Pond is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.