Synopsis
Overview
"Better Days" is a 2019 Chinese youth drama film directed by Derek Tsang, starring Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee. The film is adapted from Jiu Yuexi's novel "In His Youth, In Her Beauty," and deeply focuses on issues such as school bullying, adolescent trauma, the pressure of the college entrance examination, and the struggles of youth...
Overview
"Better Days" is a 2019 Chinese youth drama film directed by Derek Tsang, starring Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee. Adapted from Jiu Yuexi's novel "In His Youth, In Her Beauty," the film profoundly focuses on social issues such as school bullying, adolescent trauma, the pressure of the national college entrance exam (Gaokao), and the complex relationship between youth and the adult world. With its realistic and sharp narrative, highly intense performances, and impactful visual style, the film sparked widespread societal discussion and reflection upon its release. On the Douban Movie platform, it received over 1.5 million user ratings, maintaining a stable score of 8.3. It achieved both critical acclaim and box office success, winning numerous major awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best New Performer at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Plot
The story is set against the tense atmosphere on the eve of the Gaokao. The female protagonist, Chen Nian (played by Zhou Dongyu), is an introverted top high school senior who desperately hopes to get into a good university through the Gaokao to change her destiny. However, due to a chance incident, she becomes the new target of school bullies led by Wei Lai, enduring sustained physical harm and psychological torment. In a moment of loneliness and helplessness, she meets Xiao Bei (played by Jackson Yee), a "delinquent" who roams the streets and gets into fights daily. Both marginalized and isolated youths, their fates become intertwined after Chen Nian unexpectedly intervenes when Xiao Bei is being beaten. Xiao Bei begins silently protecting Chen Nian, becoming a ray of light in her dark life, and the two make the heavy promise, "You protect the world, I'll protect you." An unexpected death pulls them into a deeper vortex, severely testing their relationship and destinies. Through the perspective of a criminal investigation, the film peels back the layers of truth, revealing the unspeakable pain endured by adolescents growing up, the pure yet desperate emotional bond between them, and the shortcomings of society, family, and the education system in protecting young people.
Cast
The following are the main actors and their roles in the film:
| Actor | Role | Role Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Zhou Dongyu | Chen Nian | A high school senior suffering from school bullying, with a forbearing personality, who longs to escape her current situation through the Gaokao. |
| Jackson Yee | Xiao Bei (Liu Beishan) | A street youth, unruly in appearance but kind-hearted, who becomes Chen Nian's protector. |
| Yin Fang | Zheng Yi | A young police officer in charge of investigating the case, trying to uncover the truth and help the two youths. |
| Huang Jue | Lao Yang | An experienced police officer, colleague of Zheng Yi. |
| Wu Yue | Zhou Lei | Chen Nian's mother, busy making a living, largely unaware of her daughter's plight. |
| Zhou Ye | Wei Lai | The main instigator of the bullying, from a wealthy family, beautiful in appearance but twisted inside. |
Cultural Impact
The release of "Better Days" had a profound cultural impact in Chinese society. Firstly, the film placed the long-standing but often overlooked social issue of "school bullying" at the center of public attention in a highly impactful way, triggering a nationwide discussion involving official education departments, schools, parents, and ordinary netizens, significantly raising public awareness and concern about the issue. Secondly, the film's realistic portrayal of the psychological pressure on adolescents under the Gaokao system resonated with many viewers, prompting reflection on the comprehensive impact of the exam-oriented education environment on the physical and mental health of young people. Furthermore, the film received high artistic recognition, with the performances of leads Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee highly praised. Particularly, Jackson Yee successfully transitioned from an idol to a skilled actor, marking the rise of a new generation of Chinese actors. Finally, the film's dual success commercially and in awards proved the market potential and artistic value of youth films with realistic themes, providing an important template for subsequent works of similar genres. It is not just a film but has become a significant socio-cultural phenomenon, continuously driving discussion and improvement of related issues.
References
- Douban Movie - "Better Days" homepage (includes rating, synopsis, cast and crew information)
https://movie.douban.com/subject/30166972/ - Xinhua Net - Report on the discussion of school bullying topics sparked by the film "Better Days"
http://www.xinhuanet.com/ent/2019-11/01/c_1125182443.htm - Hong Kong Film Awards Official Website - 39th Award Winners List (showing awards won by "Better Days")
https://www.hkfaa.com/winnerlist39.html
Comments (0)