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IMDbPro

Better Days

Original title: Shaonian de ni
  • 20192019
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.1K
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
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Romance
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.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Derek Tsang
  • Writers
    • Wing-Sum Lam(screenplay by)
    • Yuan Li(screenplay by)
    • Yimeng Xu(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Dongyu Zhou
    • Jackson Yee
    • Fang Yin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Derek Tsang
  • Writers
    • Wing-Sum Lam(screenplay by)
    • Yuan Li(screenplay by)
    • Yimeng Xu(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Dongyu Zhou
    • Jackson Yee
    • Fang Yin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 82User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 61 wins & 79 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:23
    Official Teaser Trailer
    Better Days
    Trailer 1:24
    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 Nianas Chen Nian
    Jackson Yee
    Jackson Yee
    • Xiao Beias Xiao Bei
    Fang Yin
    Fang Yin
    • Zheng Yias Zheng Yi
    Ye Zhou
    Ye Zhou
    • Wei Laias Wei Lai
    Yue Wu
    Yue Wu
    • Chen Nian's Motheras Chen Nian's Mother
    Jue Huang
    Jue Huang
    • Lao Yang (Police Detective)as Lao Yang (Police Detective)
    Yifan Zhang
    Yifan Zhang
    • Hu Xiaodieas Hu Xiaodie
    Yao Zhang
    Yao Zhang
    • Li Xiangas Li Xiang
    Xinyi Zhang
    Xinyi Zhang
    • Xu Miaoas Xu Miao
    Runnan Zhao
    Runnan Zhao
    • Da Kangas Da Kang
    • (as Allen Zhao)
    Xuanming Gao
    • Lai Zias Lai Zi
    Xintong Xie
    • Wang Lias Wang Li
    Ran Liu
    Ran Liu
    • Luo Tingas Luo Ting
    • (as Ran)
    Lüyun Heliao
    Lüyun Heliao
    • Punk Gang Leaderas Punk Gang Leader
    • (as Luyun Heliao)
    Bozhan Ju
    • Loan Sharkas Loan Shark
    Yingming Wang
    • Deanas Dean
    Weilong Li
    • Debtoras Debtor
    Zhongyu Guo
    • Mobile Shop Owneras Mobile Shop Owner
    • Director
      • Derek Tsang
    • Writers
      • Wing-Sum Lam(screenplay by)
      • Yuan Li(screenplay by)
      • Yimeng Xu(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details 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 reviews82

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    the road to success has its costs
    We often hear about how students in China are among the most hard-working in the world, real go-getters. The underbelly of this is the severe stress under which they operate. Derek Tsang's Academy Award-nominated "Shaonian de ni" ("Better Days" in English). The protagonist is a bullied girl about to take the National College Entrance Exam. She hooks up with a local hoodlum, but surprises remain in store.

    The torment from the bullying reflects the pressure from the exam. It's a truly tough world for this girl as various events conspire to close the walls in on her. The complex characters and the general intensity of the plot make this one movie that you have to see. It's the first of Tsang's movies that I've seen, but I certainly hope to see more of them. A real masterpiece.
    helpful•8
    0
    • lee_eisenberg
    • May 4, 2021

    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
    • 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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