Better Days (2019 film)

Better Days
Theatrical release poster
Chinese少年的你
Literal meaningThe Youthful You
Hanyu Pinyinshàonián dě nǐ
Directed byDerek Tsang
Written by
  • Lam Wing Sum
  • Li Yuan
  • Xu Yimeng
Based onIn His Youth, In Her Beauty
by Jiu Yuexi
Produced byXu Yuezhen
Starring
CinematographyYu Jing-Pin
Edited byZhang Yibo
Music byVarqa Buehrer
Production
companies
  • Henan Film Group
  • China Wit Media
  • Tianijn Xiron Entertainment
  • We Pictures
  • Shooting Pictures
Distributed by
  • Lian Rui Pictures
  • Shanghai Taopiaopiao Film Culture
  • Tianjin Maoyan Weying Media
  • Huaxia Film Distribution
  • Golden Village Pictures
Release date
  • 25 October 2019 (2019-10-25)
Running time
135 minutes
Countries

LanguageMandarin
Box officeUS$230.1 million[8]

Better Days (Chinese: 少年的你; Romanized as Shao nian de ni) is a 2019 Hong Kong-Chinese drama film directed by Derek Tsang and written by Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan and Xu Yimeng.[9] Based on the Chinese young adult novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty (少年的你，如此美丽; literally "The Youthful You, So Beautiful") by Jiu Yuexi, the film stars Zhou Dongyu (Chinese: 周冬雨) and Jackson Yee (Chinese: 易烊千玺), and follows a high school girl struggling with severe bullying and the pressure of upcoming college entrance exams, whose life becomes intertwined with that of a teenage street thug.[10]

Better Days was released on 25 October 2019 in China and on 8 November 2019 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. One of the most highly anticipated Chinese films in 2019 due to its leads Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee's immense popularity, the film became a pop culture phenomenon in China as well as a box office hit, grossing a total of US$230.1 million.[11][12][13] A critical success, the film was chosen as the official entry for Hong Kong for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards; it became the third Hong Kong entry in history to achieve the nomination (27 years after Farewell My Concubine, the second), and was the first nominated entry directed by a Hong Kong native rather than by a Mainland Chinese director.[14][15]

Plot

[edit]

After her classmate, Hu Xiaodie, commits suicide because of school bullying, Chen Nian finds herself as the new victim of the "queen bee" and vicious school bully, Wei Lai, along with her friends. When Chen Nian witnesses teenage thug Liu Beishan, also known as "Xiao Bei," being assaulted by rival thugs, she attempts to call the police but is attacked by the thugs as well. They force her to kiss Xiao Bei as a way to humiliate them.

Chen Nian’s school bullies grow fiercer, physically attacking her and spreading rumors about her family. Police detectives Zheng Ye and Lao Yang investigate Hu Xiaodie’s death and reveal that Chen Nian has reported being bullied. As a consequence, Wei Lai and her friends are suspended from school. Enraged, the three expelled bullies chase Chen Nian one day with boxcutters and a cage of rats. With nowhere else to turn, she seeks refuge at Xiao Bei’s house and asks him to protect her while she studies for the college entrance exam. He agrees and accompanies her to and from school each day, and during this time, the two grow close.

Xiao Bei is picked to be in a lineup and ends up stuck at the police station. Without his protection, Chen Nian is caught by the bullies; they cut her hair, beat her, and strip her, all while filming. When Xiao Bei is finally released, he rushes home to find a bleeding Chen Nian in tatters. He assists her in shaving her head and shaves his own in solidarity.

On the day of the exam, heavy rain causes a landslide. While clearing the landslide, Wei Lai's body is discovered. After the first day of the two-day exam, the detectives question Chen Nian as the main suspect in Wei Lai’s murder. They ask her why she didn’t come to them after the video of her was filmed; she states that she simply wants to take her exam and move away to Beijing for college.

As she's being escorted home by police, Xiao Bei grabs Chen Nian, and they run. He explains that the only way for her to go to college is if he takes the blame for Wei Lai's death. Reluctantly, Chen Nian agrees, and he acts as though he's assaulting her, leading to his arrest.

A flashback reveals Wei Lai begging Chen Nian not to report the video to the police. When Chen Nian pushes her in anger after she persists, Wei Lai falls down the stairs, hitting her head and dying. In the present, Chen Nian and Xiao Bei are interrogated but maintain that the only time they had met was when Xiao Bei attacked Chen Nian.

After Chen Nian receives her exam score, the detective informs her that Xiao Bei has been sentenced to death. Distraught, Chen Nian admits her involvement in the crime. The detective reveals that he lied to her to get her to confess, as the sentence would be lighter for both of them. He takes her to see Xiao Bei, and they agree to accept the lighter sentences; both end up in jail.

A few years later, Chen Nian is a teacher. She notices a distressed child, and they walk home together, closely followed by Xiao Bei. Screens explain the policies enacted by the Chinese government since the incident to prevent bullying in schools and impose stricter punishments on school bullies. Finally, there's a plea for everyone to take responsibility for the youth and their safety.

Cast

[edit]
  • Zhou Dongyu as Chen Nian. The female protagonist, a 12th grader who gets bullied by a group of girls led by Wei Lai after being interrogated by the police regarding Hu Xiaodie's suicide. She later becomes close to Xiao Bei, insisting on making their future better together.
  • Jackson Yee as Liu Beishan (aka "Xiao Bei"). The male protagonist who starts off as a street thug but ends up protecting Chen Nian from bullies and falling in love with her in their later encounters. He also takes the blame for several crimes in order to free Chen Nian of criminal charges.
  • Yin Fang as Zheng Ye. A young police detective who plays a major role in finding out the bullies and tries to help Chen Nian.
  • Huang Jue as Lao Yang. A member of the police department, who is like a mentor to Zheng Ye and provides him advice.
  • Wu Yue as Chen Nian's mother. She is a single mother, who used to sell beauty products which caused skin damage since she didn’t have any other choice in order to save money for her and her daughter’s future.
  • Zhou Ye as Wei Lai. The pretty and "sweet" popular girl hailing from a rich family and the main bully who had led Hu Xiaodie to her death and wanted Chen Nian to commit suicide by doing wrong to her.
  • Zhang Xinyi as Xu Miao. A bystander who used to help Wei Lai in bullying to avoid experiencing it on herself, later takes Chen Nian’s help.
  • Liu Ran as Luo Ting. The bystander who used to do most of the hurting to the victims on Wei Lei’s command.
  • Xie Xintong as Wang Li. A member of the police department, used to have a negative opinion on Chen Nian, later accepting Zheng Ye’s opinion.
  • Zhang Yifan as Hu Xiaodie. The victim who used to get bullied by Wei Lei and her friends. She had jumped off from the highest storey of the school and committed suicide.
  • Zhao Runnan as Da Kang. Xiao Bei's friend.
  • Zhang Yao as Li Xiang. A fellow victim along with Chen Nian who used to try and cheer her up by reminding her of the dreams she had set on reaching Beijing after the examination.

Soundtrack

[edit]

Music with lyrics

[edit]
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."We are Well (我们很好)" (Opening theme)Ge DaweiJJ LinJJ Lin4:28
2."Thoughts (念想)" (Interlude)Wang ZiWang ZiJackson Yee4:13
3."Fly" (Ending theme)Ellen Joyce Loo, Wu Tsing-fongEllen Joyce LooYoyo Sham3:52

Instrumental music

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Better Days (少年的你)"1:10
2."Wild Animals (野兽)"2:00
3."Examination (高考)"1:51
4."A Promise (一个约定)"4:15
5."Class Photo (毕业照)"3:40
6."A Good Person (好人)"1:16
7."Let Me Go (让我走)"3:46
8."You Owe Me Once (欠我一次)"4:52
9."A Drop in the Ocean (汪洋一滴)"2:19
10."Torn to Shreds (破碎)"2:40

Production

[edit]

Better Days is adapted from Jiu Yuexi's novel In His Youth, In Her Beauty (少年的你，如此美丽; the novel was also translated as Young and Beautiful by some sources).[16][17]

Production started in July 2018 and ended on September 10, 2018.[18] Most of the film was shot on location in Chongqing.[19]

Release

[edit]

Better Days was released on October 25, 2019, in China. It was released by Well Go USA Entertainment in Mandarin with English subtitles in selected theaters in the United States and Canada.[20]

The film was pulled from the Berlin Festival's Generation section.[21][22][23]

Critical reception

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 97% based on reviews from 31 critics, with an average rating of 8.3/10.[24] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 based on 5 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[25] The film also received a rating of 8.4/10 on Chinese film rating cite Douban and a 9.4/10 score on Chinese ticketing site Maoyan.[26][27][28] The film topped the list of MovieWeb's Best Chinese Movies of the 2010s.[29]

Cary Darling of the Houston Chronicle stated in 2019 that it was "one of the best films of the year" and that it "deserves a wide audience".[30]

Box office

[edit]

Better Days grossed more than US$80 million dollars on its opening weekend in China. The film grossed more than 1.29 billion yuan (about 184 million U.S. dollars) in only 15 days in China.[20]

Accolades

[edit]

The film won the Snow Leopard Special Jury Award at the 6th Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles in March 2021.[31]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Notes
2020 26th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award Best Film Better Days Nominated
Recommended Film Award Won
Best Screenplay Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yimeng Nominated
Best Actor Jackson Yee Nominated
Best Actress Zhou Dongyu Nominated
Best Director Derek Tsang Won
39th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Director Won
Best Film Better Days Won
Best Actor Jackson Yee Nominated
Best New Performer Won
Best Actress Zhou Dongyu Won
Best Cinematography Yu Jing-Pin Won
Best Editing Zhang Yibo Nominated
Best Art Direction Liang Honghu Nominated
Best Costume Make Up Design Dora Ng Won
Best Original Film Song "Fly" Won
Best Original Film Score Varqa Buehrer Nominated
Best Screenplay Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yimeng Won
35th Hundred Flower Awards Best Actress Zhou Dongyu Won
Best Newcomer Jackson Yee Won
Best Film Better Days Nominated
Best Director Derek Tsang Nominated
Best Screenplay Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yimeng Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Wu Yue Nominated
Far East Film Festival Golden Mulberry Better Days Won
Black Mulberry Won
33rd Golden Rooster Awards Best Actress Zhou Dongyu Won
Best Editing Zhang Yibo Won
Best Film Better Days Nominated
Best Director Derek Tsang Nominated
Best Screenplay Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan, Xu Yimeng Nominated
Best Actor Jackson Yee Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Huang Jue Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Zhou Ye Nominated
Best Cinematography Yu Jing-Pin Nominated
Best Music Varqa Buehrer Nominated
Best Sound Huang Zhen Nominated
93rd Academy Awards Best International Feature Film Derek Tsang Nominated
15th Osaka Asian Film Festival Audience Award Better Days Won

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Better Days': Film Profile". Oslo Films from the South. November 13, 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2024. Production: (Hong Kong)
  2. ^ "'Better Days': Review". Screen International. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Cinando : Better Days Profile". cinando.com. Cinando. Archived from the original on 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2024-11-24. Producing or Co-producing country: HK-CN
  4. ^ "'Better Days': Review". Deadline. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  5. ^ "'Better Days': Film Review". Variety. December 2, 2019. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021. Production: (China)
  6. ^ "'Better Days': Review". Screen International. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  7. ^ "LUMIERE : Film #84081 : Better Days". lumiere.obs.coe.int. European Audiovisual Observatory. Archived from the original on 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-03-27. Producing or Co-producing country: CN
  8. ^ "Better Days (2019)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  9. ^ Kilian O’Donnell; David Paulk (24 October 2019). "Long-Delayed Film 'Better Days' Gets Surprise Release in China". sixthtone.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. ^ Rebecca Davis (28 October 2019). "China Box Office: 'Better Days' Steps Out as World's Top-Grossing Film". variety.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  11. ^ "累计票房已过1.3亿，《少年的你》锁定年度最佳"青春片"？_腾讯新闻".
  12. ^ "《少年的你》撤档，数百万易烊千玺粉丝包场票房怎么办？". 27 June 2019.
  13. ^ "周冬雨《少年的你》密钥延期至12月8日 票房已破15亿元 2019票房榜国产片第八名 – Mtime时光网". news.mtime.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-11. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  14. ^ Frater, Patrick (27 November 2020). "Hong Kong Picks 'Better Days' as Oscars Contender". Variety. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  15. ^ Davis, Clayton (9 February 2021). "Oscars Shortlists Announced in Nine Categories". Variety. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Movie helps raise awareness of school bullying in China". Archived from the original on 2019-11-06.
  17. ^ Yan Shanshan (严珊珊) (5 November 2019). 《少年的你》原著作者玖月晞否认抄袭融梗：或许有共通的思考. guancha.cn (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  18. ^ vivicky li (10 September 2018). 一线 《少年的你》杀青 易烊千玺称“少年无惧”. qq.com (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  19. ^ 《少年的你》陈念家成网红景点 外地游客前往打卡. sina (in Chinese). 3 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Chinese youth drama film "Better Days" hits big screen in North America". xinhuanet. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  21. ^ Patrick Frater (4 February 2019). "Chinese Pic 'Better Days' is Yanked From Berlin Film Festival". variety.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  22. ^ Cary Darling (5 November 2019). "Review: 'Better Days' escaped Chinese censorship to become one of year's best films". sfchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Film Set in China's Cultural Revolution Is Pulled From the Berlin festival's Generation section". The New York Times. 3 February 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Better Days (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Better Days Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  26. ^ 顾馨. "Better Days expected to soar to blockbuster status". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  27. ^ "少年的你 (豆瓣)". movie.douban.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  28. ^ "【开腔】关于《少年的你》，易烊千玺说最难拍的是……-中新网". www.chinanews.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  29. ^ Hajimirsadeghi, Ashley (2022-12-03). "Best Chinese Movies of the 2010s, Ranked". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  30. ^ Darling, Cary (2019-11-06). "The Chinese government didn't want you to see 'Better Days.' Here's why you should". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
  31. ^ Leiber, Sarah Jae (17 March 2021). "6th Annual Asian World Film Festival Announces Winners". Broadway World. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
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