A group of teens driving without a license crash the car on the highway. The driver blames Chiang Hsiao-yu, who is unconscious from a head injury and eventually gets him expelled from school. During a fight with those who were in the car with him, Hsiao-yu falls into a deep swamp but finds his way out, only to find himself back at the moment just before the accident. In The Pond, science fiction concepts like time travel and a parallel universe are combined with the conventions of Taiwanese school tales. As the protagonist pursues the truth, the film explores the realistic yet multi-layered aspects of youth, with a touch of comic humor. Youngsters can be foolish, naive and cowardly, but this is all part of coming-of-age. This is a feature version of the 10-part 10 minute mini-series by Cheng Wei-hao, who has proven directorial talent in the crime and thriller genres. (CHO Jaewhee)