Taiwan’s First Love Icon, Michelle Chen

Every boy has a strong memory of his first love. Taiwan movie You Are The Apple of My Eye touches a deep memory of people’s first love, demonstrating boy’s crush on a naïve and beloved girl during his high school days.

Within Asian countries, the first love is often depicted as an unforgettable experience of boys. Indeed, the first love seemed to gain more interest and sympathy from the viewers especially when it is unfulfilled. Interestingly, those who act as a first love icon are more likely to gain popularity from teenage boys after the film is released. For Korean case, Suzy, a member of Miss A, earns the spotlight and attention from movie industry and audience after her acting in Architecture 101. Similarly, in Taiwan, Michelle Chen made a big leap in her film activity acting as Shen Chia Yi in You Are The Apple of My Eye, known in Korea as The Girl We Loved in Those Days. As Suzy did in Architecture 101, Michelle Chen also behaves ambiguous enough to lead emotional roller coaster of boys including a lead character, Ko Ching Teng. With her natural beauty and adorable eyes, Michelle Chen won popularity in Korea as well.

The movie was released in 2011 and 2012 in Taiwan and Korea, respectively. It had its international debut through the New York Asian Film Festival in 2012. It attracted many audiences mounting to almost 3 million people and was ranked as the most watched film on television in Taiwan. Lho Ji-young Reporter