Award-winning Ruan Guang-Min’s Chio-Tian Young Beats draws on the real Chio-Tian Folk Drums & Arts Troupe, known for taking in youths rejected by school or society. Through strict training in drumming, dance, and ritual performance, members find discipline, belonging, and purpose. Hao-Nan, a rebellious teen, moves into the troupe’s dormitory when his beloved grandmother is hospitalized. Thit-Hiong, meanwhile, turns to violence. Like many who join, both boys carry the weight of hardship and alienation. At first guarded and distant, these two teenagers slowly build trust through rhythm, routine, and shared struggle.
Set against the sweat and thunder of practice on Dadu Mountain in Taichung, their gradual transformation shows that healing doesn’t require miracles—just a place to belong. With sincerity and nuance, acclaimed comic artist Ruan Guang-Min delivers a deeply Taiwanese coming-of-age story, pulsing with grit, emotion, and hope.