Nina Wu

How far will one go to achieve success? That's the question put to an aspiring Taiwanese actress who has been struggling for years for a breakthrough. But, now that a big opportunity has emerged, can she bring herself to do what's asked of her? And can she do so if the requirements go against her own sensibilities? "Nina Wu" addresses these issues both through her own direct experience, as well as the images of her vivid dreams, bringing her face to face with herself, her internal conflicts and her ability to push her own limits, themes reminiscent of films like "Black Swan" (2010). Director Midi Z's latest is never dull, providing viewers with a captivating tale through its many changes of mood, quirky humor and fine performances, even if it does begin to lose control of the room somewhat toward the end. Nevertheless, audiences will hang on every frame as they wonder where this evocative character study is going and how it will all turn out. While this may be one of the stranger offerings of recent years, it's freshness, timeliness and distinctiveness are curiously and eminently satisfying.

“They don’t just want to take my body, they want to take my soul!” Exposing the abuse and misogyny that actresses, and really pretty much all women face in their workplace is not something new. But exposing it as far as the film industry goes, is perhaps more striking since the uncovering of all the dirt the Me Too movement began. Nina Wu may not be the story many want to see or hear, but it's one that demands attention for situations that the industry around the world would love to minimize.