The Final Semester is the extraordinary story of an ordinary student named Chang-woo, who is in the final semester at a vocational high school. Chang-woo is doing an internship at a small to medium-sized company’s factory and finds himself awkwardly contemplating his future alongside his classmate Woo-jae, who is growing tired of factory life, and Seong-min, who is recognized as competent. Despite unfortunate accidents happening around him, Chang-woo’s education continues every single day. The Final Semester is the second feature film by director Lee Ran-hee, who delivered a powerful emotional impact with her debut feature A Leave (2020), which told the story of a middle-aged laid-off worker, while The Final Semester is a meticulous chronicle of a young novice worker. Watching Chang-woo clumsily working in a factory full of dangerous machinery is nerve-wracking, but he slowly and steadily grows, and his small steps forward are deeply moving. This is a modest yet solid and authentic coming-of-age story that quietly immerses the audience in the experience of growth. (JUNG Hanseok)