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Taiwanese filmmaker Wang Ming-Tai marks his directorial debut with Xian Doujiang (Brave 20), a tale of two young men at odds with the predetermined lives plotted for them by their parents. Ming-hsien (Ma Chih-hsiang) and Chi-wen (Fan Chih-wei) have been half-heartedly preparing for the college entrance exams that are widely believed to be the only means for young Taiwanese to become successful, career-oriented adults. The two friends do not have any other plans that would truly conflict with following that path, but they still decide they want to have no part of it and they rebel against their parents' wishes. Meanwhile, Ming-hsien has fallen in love with a young woman who has no romantic interests in him, due to the fact that she is hopelessly involved with a musician. Chi-wen, who loses his girlfriend over his decision not to take the exams, meets a young prostitute in trouble with a local gangster and decides to provide her some protection. Brave 20 premiered in 2002 and subsequently made the film festival rounds in 2002 and 2003, with screenings in the Pusan International Film Festival, the Hawaii International Film Festival, and the Nantes Cinema Festival.