Synopsis for
A Time to Love (2005) More at IMDbPro »Qing ren jie (original title)

Shakespeare creates a frame for lover everywhere in the world. Generation by generation we jump into the circle. In Huo's movie, he interprets it as a Chinese knot of lovers, involving hatred, memory and something hard to put down which is named of LOVE.

30 years ago, in the city of Haerbin in north China, everything was huge, massive industry factories, spectacular buildings; large tree shadow covered a group of children playing in a beautiful summer yard, among who there were a little girl called Qu Ran and a boy called Hou Jia.

Hou Jia was a clever and mild boy; he loves Qu Ran tenderly. He said when she was riding on his bike at the back, he was hard to hear what she was saying, but she sounded happy, so was he. Extroverted though, Qu Ran kept her love in her mouth, in the moment she looked at his bright eyes. Shy as most of Chinese at the early 80s, they played game creating their shadow on the aired white quilt kissed in hugs. They laughed.

However the hatred of their parents was pushed on their shoulder, building an uncrossable obstacle. Qu Ran's father was indirectly responsible for Hou Jia's fathers suicide. The story went like Qu's father and Hou's father were in the same factory. Hous father had fell in love with a young woman at his workplace; then the woman had been pregnant which was considered as a big shame in China at that time. As Qu's father had advised the woman that if she conceded that she was raped by Hou's father, she would be regarded as a victim in the case. She did which led to Hou's father committed suicide. At the same time, Hou's mother became a handicapped in a car accident Betrayed by her husband, while disable for work any more, she could neither forget nor forgive them. In all, both families were stayed in a knot of hatred. But Qu Ran and Hou Jia were desperately in love. In college years, Qu Ran read the book of Romeo and Julia completely, and totally moved. Since than it become their favorite story.

After graduating from university, Hou went to study abroad. Qu Ran stayed at home with her family. They promised, their love was changed until one person told the other. In Hou's letter, he said he had collected over 7 editions of Romeo and Julia written by different languages. Until one day Hou's mother deliberately showed Qu Ran of Hou Jia's graduation photo with a gorgeous American girl by his side. She made her mind not contacting with him any more. Because she was afraid of being informed the news by him. She refused any miai just waited. Wait for what? Waiting has been a part of my life; "waiting was the way of my life. "She realized. Finally 7 years later, Hou Jia came back; Qu Rans father was diagnosed of cancer. Qu cried out, she accused herself that how much she has hurt him these years. Hou Jia called her; what he heard was her weak voice, and her guilty to her passed away father. Hou Jia was very disappointed was that all?

In fact, by his death, Qu's father talked with Hou Jia, and asked Hou Jia to pass a confession letter which he wrote for Hou's mother and the factory bureau, and he asked Hou to marry Qu Ran.

The two have not met until one day, Hou saw Qu Ran holding a wedding dress in a shop. They looked at each other, for first time in eight years. she smiled; he was embarrassed. "No, it was not me getting married." Qu Ran explained. He laughed out. It turned out they had not forgotten each other. Both have been waiting for years.

The old lovers had a dinner together in a bar, surrounded by romantic young lovers. They laughed at themselves. "Marry me please. I want to give you happiness." He proposed to her. On 14th February, they took the picture of wedding. They stood in front of a camera, looking uncomfortable, shy and they could not accept this moment. They were here finally. The memories of 18 years old, flashed back in their mind. Qu Ran smiled in tears. End.