The First Taste of Loneliness (Chinese:初次尝到寂寞; formerly titled A Moon for Every River) is a 2026 Chinese-France drama film co-written and directed by Gu You, starring Zhou Xun, Xi Meijuan, Wang Shengdi, Zhou Yiwei, Mu Zhicheng and Xu Chaoying. The Chinese title refers to "The First Taste of Loneliness (初次尝到寂寞)", a song by Teresa Teng that is featured near the end of the film. The film follows three generations of women as they navigate grief and loneliness after the death of a beloved father. It is the last instalment of Gu's "Shan-Shui (Landscape) trilogy" following Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains (2019) and Dwelling by the West Lake (2023).
The film had its world premiere in the Main Competition section at the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 2026, where it won the Busan Award for Best Actor for Zhou Xun and the Busan Award for Artistic Contribution for sound director Li Danfeng.
Synopsis
The film tells the story of Jiang Yue (Zhou Xun), a middle-aged woman, struggles with grief following the death of her father. As she gradually comes to terms with her loss, she discovers that her mother (Xi Meijuan) has quietly begun a new relationship and finds a wish list left by her father before his death. These discoveries reveal the emotional connections between three generations of women. Spanning the lives of the elderly, middle-aged, and younger generations, the film explores themes of loneliness, love, death, and healing.
Principal photography officially began in Hangzhou on May 15, 2025. Filming wrapped on June 16, 2025. In October 2025, the project was shortlisted for the "Red Sea Souk Works-in-Progress" section at the Red Sea Souk Project Market 2025 during 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival.
Release
The First Taste of Loneliness had its world premiere in the Main Competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival on October 7, 2026, the first edition of the festival to receive FIAPF accreditation as an A-list film festival.
The film will also be screened in the International Feature Competition section of the 32nd Geneva International Film Festival on November 4, 2026, competeing for Reflet d'Or for Best Feature.
Reception
Critical response
Allan Hunter of Screen Daily praised the film's nuanced exploration of love, loss and the meaning of life, noting how it gradually develops beyond its initial sentimentality into a philosophical reflection on grief and the passage of time. He commended Zhou Xun's understated performance, writing that she imbued Yue with "a sense of accumulated wisdom and a generosity of spirit that is immensely appealing", and highlighted her chemistry with co-star Xi Meijuan. Meanwhile, Le Hong Lam of Cine21 writing from the Busan International Film Festival commended the film's poetic and contemplative portrayal of loss, loneliness and healing through the experiences of three generations of women. He highlighted Gu You's restrained storytelling, lengthy long takes and visual imagery, describing the film as a fitting conclusion to his Landscape trilogy. Zhou was particularly praised for her restrained portrayal of a single mother attempting to move forward after loss.
↑Le Hong Lam (7 October 2026). "BIFF #2호 [COMPETITION REVIEW] '처음 만난 외로움'"[BIFF Issue #2 [COMPETITION REVIEW] 'Loneliness Encountered for the First Time']. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 31, 2026. Retrieved October 31, 2026.
↑Choi Hee-jae (October 15, 2026). "美 아카데미 출품 자격 얻었다…'빵과 책', 부국제 '만장일치' 대상 (종합)"[Qualifies for U.S. Academy Awards… 'Bread and Books' Wins Unanimous Grand Prize at BIFF (Roundup)]. Edaily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2026.
