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Better Days

Original title: Shaonian de ni
  • 2019
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Jackson Yee and Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
When it is time for the Chinese gaokao, the entire country comes to a standstill. For nearly ten million high school students, this two-day national college entrance exam will determine where and if they get to study. It is not uncommon for the fates of entire families to hinge on the results. Like so many others, Nian has been single-mindedly preparing for the exam, at the exclusion of everything else and all alone. A classmate has committed suicide and she has become the target of relentless bullying. Meanwhile, fate brings her together with small-time criminal Bei and the two of them seal a pact. Derek Kwok-cheung Tsang's intense melodramatic thriller paints a bleak picture of an oppressive society, in the guise of a gripping fairy-tale love story.
Play trailer1:23
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeDramaRomance

A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her from her assailants, all while she copes with the pressures of her final examinations.A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her from her assailants, all while she copes with the pressures of her final examinations.A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her from her assailants, all while she copes with the pressures of her final examinations.

  • Director
    • Derek Tsang
  • Writers
    • Wing-Sum Lam
    • Yuan Li
    • Yimeng Xu
  • Stars
    • Dongyu Zhou
    • Jackson Yee
    • Fang Yin
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    11K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Derek Tsang
    • Writers
      • Wing-Sum Lam
      • Yuan Li
      • Yimeng Xu
    • Stars
      • Dongyu Zhou
      • Jackson Yee
      • Fang Yin
    • 86User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 66 wins & 82 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Watch Official Teaser Trailer
    Better Days
    Trailer 1:24
    Watch Better Days

    Photos464

    Better Days (2019)
    Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee and Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee and Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee in Better Days (2019)
    Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee and Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)
    Jackson Yee and Dongyu Zhou in Better Days (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dongyu Zhou
    Dongyu Zhou
    • Chen Nian
    Jackson Yee
    Jackson Yee
    • Xiao Bei
    Fang Yin
    Fang Yin
    • Zheng Yi
    Ye Zhou
    Ye Zhou
    • Wei Lai
    Yue Wu
    Yue Wu
    • Chen Nian's Mother
    Jue Huang
    Jue Huang
    • Lao Yang (Police Detective)
    Yifan Zhang
    Yifan Zhang
    • Hu Xiaodie
    Yao Zhang
    Yao Zhang
    • Li Xiang
    Xinyi Zhang
    Xinyi Zhang
    • Xu Miao
    Runnan Zhao
    Runnan Zhao
    • Da Kang
    • (as Allen Zhao)
    Xuanming Gao
    • Lai Zi
    Xintong Xie
    • Wang Li
    Ran Liu
    Ran Liu
    • Luo Ting
    • (as Ran)
    Lüyun Heliao
    Lüyun Heliao
    • Punk Gang Leader
    • (as Luyun Heliao)
    Bozhan Ju
    • Loan Shark
    Yingming Wang
    • Dean
    Weilong Li
    • Debtor
    Zhongyu Guo
    • Mobile Shop Owner
    • Director
      • Derek Tsang
    • Writers
      • Wing-Sum Lam
      • Yuan Li
      • Yimeng Xu
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although Chen Nian and Xiao Bei are around their age range, Dongyu Zhou (Chen Nian) is actually eight years older than Jackson Yee (Xiao Bei).
    • Quotes

      Chen Nian: Can you protect me? I don't have money to pay you.

    • Crazy credits
      There's a mid-credits scene.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Oscars (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Inky and Blinky's Band
      Written by Eric Matyas

    User reviews86

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    "If you weren't the bully, then you were being bullied."
    Every June, almost 10 million Chinese students sit for the National College Entrance Examination, or the "Gaokao". For many, this nine-hour exam is considered the most important deciding factor in a student's future: Success on the Gaokao is what determines acceptance to China's universities, which in turn determines one's future career.

    Although Better Days was initially censored by the Chinese government, the decision was later changed and the movie began showing in theaters. It's not hard to see why it enticed controversy in the first place as it portrays the Gaokao as a high pressure environment that fosters bullying, mental illness, and suicide. It opens a window to a world where students study endless hours in cram schools for their chance at a good future. Accountability in bullying cases is a recurring theme that underlies the movie.

    But don't get this wrong, this isn't a story about the Gaokao. This is a story about heartbreak. Heartbreak for students who are bullied by their peers. Heartbreak for single parents who put their hopes and dreams on their children. Heartbreak for those who love unconditionally and are willing to sacrifice everything. Dongyu Zhou (Soul Mate, Under the Hawthorn Tree) and Jackson Yee (TFboys) are deft as two halves of a love story while Director Derek Tsang masterfully captures the sheer range of both leads. The cinematography doesn't go unnoticed either as every shot has tremendous depth for those paying close attention.

    Of the many lines that stand out in this movie, one that resonates particularly is "If you weren't the bully, then you were being bullied." To me, this is what makes the film so powerful: its ability to pull at your heart over and over again. Go out and see this film. When you leave the theater, reflect on what you saw. Wonder how despite how far we have come, we still have so much left to go.
    helpful•64
    6
    • htmlfreak
    • Nov 10, 2019

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    FAQ1

    • Is this based on true events? The end credits of the film implies that this actually happened, but i couldn't find actual proof of it.

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 25, 2019 (China)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official sites
      • Magnum Films (Australia)
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • Mandarin
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shao nian de ni
    • Filming locations
      • Chongqing, China(location shooting)
    • Production companies
      • Shooting Pictures
      • He Nan Dian Ying Dian Shi Zhi Zuo Ji Tuan
      • China Wit Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,921,657
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $989,536
      • Nov 10, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $225,918,798
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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