The Last Verse may prove director Tseng Ying-ting to be one of Taiwan cinema’s freshest voices since Edward Yang. Its radically realistic depiction of a relationship, set against the turmoil of three presidential administrations, resonates with heart-wrenching candor. Young couple Jen-chie and Hsiao-ping start their romance as new hope sweeps Taiwan, only to face physical separation due to military service and economic hardships. But the raw emotions of both love and despair create a deeper chasm, paralleled by Taiwan’s own fragile democracy, real-estate bubbles, and frightening bandit mentality.