Director Lou Yi-an’s latest feature again roots for the underdog, in this case a small Taiwanese agricultural town that’s battling the onslaught of big industry.

Centred around Shiou, a failed actor who returns to his village to start afresh by working on the family farm, the film tackles the darker issues plaguing the small rural towns of Taiwan, ranging from illegal dumping to substance abuse.

The film deftly conveys the frustration of the characters, who at points feel trapped in the small town, but there is also an infectious optimism, expressed through sun dappled fields and Shiou’s growing finesse at farming. With its heartfelt storytelling, and social conscience, The Losers is a welcome break from the Taiwanese mainstream staple offerings of fluffy teen romances.