TOGETHER BY THE SEA Fiction dir. by Pei-Tsen HUNG I Taiwan
April 17, 2025
Waves of Change: Childhood, Courage, and Together by the Sea
By Koumoutsi Soultana
The sea, vast and unknowable, has long been a source of both wonder and trepidation. In Together by the Sea, director Pei-Tsen Hung navigates this tension with quiet intimacy, telling the story of Joy, a young girl in a Taiwanese fishing village who dreams of captaining her own boat. Likewise as the ocean itself, Joy’s aspirations are met with both the possibility and the resistance—rooted in tradition, superstition, and the invisible boundaries that shape childhood.
Drawing from her own coastal upbringing, Hung infuses the film with a deep personal narrative , exploring not only the ocean’s hypnotic attraction but also the unspoken rules that govern who get to explore it. Recognized with the Psaroloco Award for the Best Short Film - ages 10+, Together by the Sea has resonated with audiences for its poignant storytelling and evocative imagery. Here, Hung speaks about how her own experiences found their way into the film, the delicate balance of childhood friendship, and the sea as both a setting and a character.
Pei-Tsen HUNG
Graduated from NTUA's motion picture and drama departments. Director, casting, screenwriter.
Grew up by the sea, loves ocean and youth themes. Acting experience inspires story ideas.
In Together by the Sea, Joy’s aspiration to become a captain and her complex relationship with the ocean are central to the narrative. How did your own experiences, growing up by the sea, inform Joy’s character and shape the film’s exploration of both the allure and the fear the ocean evokes?
I grew up in a coastal rural village, where the sea was an essential part of my childhood. Since our home was close to the shore, I often followed the adults to dig for clams and harvest oysters, making the ocean a source of nourishment in my upbringing. Growing up surrounded by nature shaped my lively and adventurous personality, and as a child, I would often wander and explore the village—just like the protagonist in Together by the Sea.
Despite growing up in what seemed like a free and open environment, I was constantly reminded by adults to "be more ladylike" or that "boys shouldn’t cry." It felt as if gender dictated what we could or couldn’t do, and even what we were allowed to express. Some of my childhood friends, despite living near the sea, rarely ventured into it. In Taiwanese traditional beliefs, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is "Ghost Month" a time when spirits are said to roam freely. During this period, the warnings against going near the sea or bodies of water became even more pronounced.
I always found it perplexing that, despite Taiwan being an island surrounded by water, and so many people relying on the sea for their livelihoods, the unfamiliarity with it often led to fear. Instead of embracing the ocean, many limited themselves from exploring it.
These personal experiences and my desire to break free from limitations naturally found their way into the characters and the story during the creative process.
The bond between Joy, Smelly, and Beans is at the heart of the film. How did you approach capturing the essence of childhood friendship—both its enduring beauty and its inevitable challenges—as the characters’ dreams and realities begin to diverge?
I owe much of this film’s inspiration to the children I have encountered—those I met in everyday life, those I met during the creative process, and even my younger self. The world of children always surpasses the imagination of adults, filled with wonder and endless possibilities. I am deeply grateful that these children have allowed me to revisit the beauty of childhood, seeing the world through their eyes and hearts. Their perspectives helped shape the characters in this story.
At the same time, listening to their worries—so similar to the ones I had as a child—gave me the opportunity to weave those concerns into the narrative. Through this film, I was able to challenge both past and present limitations and, in some way, explore the world in the way that children, and my younger self, have always longed to.
Set against the backdrop of a fishing village, the sea looms vast throughout the film. What role did the setting play in establishing both the emotional and visual tone of the story, and how did you navigate the contrast between the sea’s captivating vastness and the palpable sense of tension it brings to the characters?
Many fishing villages in Taiwan, including the one portrayed in this film, are facing aging populations and urban migration, leaving behind a sense of decline. This changing fate of fishing villages has shaped how people perceive the ocean—its vastness, unfamiliarity, and unpredictability often inspire awe, or even fear.
However, children’s curiosity and desire to explore their surroundings breathe new life into these fading villages. Their eagerness to discover the sea and the world around them offers a fresh perspective, giving those who are eager to leave a chance to rediscover their environment. Through the eyes of children, the ocean transforms from something distant and intimidating into a place filled with endless possibilities.
In your director’s statement, you mention themes of self-discovery and the courage to challenge the world. How does “Together by the Sea” examine the journey of personal growth through Joy’s determination to pursue her dreams, and what do you hope audiences—regardless of age—take away from her story?
Childhood is often shaped by the boundaries set by adults, defining what we can or cannot do. These restrictions made me question and challenge the rules that were imposed on me. My curiosity and the persistent voice inside me have always driven me to explore my surroundings, defying limits and proving that growth is inherently tied to adventure, exploration, and challenges.
No matter how old we are, regardless of gender, background, or identity, we all have the right to explore, to ask questions, and to seek new possibilities. Through this film, I hope to invite the audience to break free from imposed rules and limitations, embrace their imagination, and discover the countless possibilities within themselves and the world around them.