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IMDbPro

Better Days

Original title: Shaonian de ni
  • 20192019
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,396
2,371
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.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
10K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,396
2,371
    • Derek Tsang
  • Writers
    • Wing-Sum Lam(screenplay by)
    • Yuan Li(screenplay by)
    • Yimeng Xu(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Dongyu Zhou
    • Jackson Yee
    • Fang Yin
    • 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
    • 85User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    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
      • Derek Tsang
    • Writers
      • Wing-Sum Lam(screenplay by)
      • Yuan Li(screenplay by)
      • Yimeng Xu(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Us and Them
    7.4
    Us and Them
    Soulmate
    7.3
    Soulmate
    Better Days
    4.4
    Better Days
    Under the Hawthorn Tree
    7.1
    Under the Hawthorn Tree
    Our Times
    7.3
    Our Times
    Hope
    8.2
    Hope
    Dying to Survive
    7.8
    Dying to Survive
    Nice View
    6.6
    Nice View
    My People, My Country
    6.3
    My People, My Country
    Goodbye Mr. Loser
    6.7
    Goodbye Mr. Loser
    The Longest Day in Chang'an
    7.8
    The Longest Day in Chang'an
    Farewell My Concubine
    8.1
    Farewell My Concubine

    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 reviews85

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Strong message!
    Bullying ~ the big menace in school. How it affects the bullied person mentally, emotionally, physically. The role of parenting. Not only giving birth but also becoming the parent. The school, teachers, parents, law, and above all we people; have to stop it. The story telling is good. The sacrifice we make, for the other persons.. Important message given which we dont think is a big issue. We take certain issues less important but actually being much more important. Questions raised on loyality, friends, bullying, parenting and much more. See for the message!
    helpful•21
    4
    • moviesknight
    • Apr 10, 2020

    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)
      • China
      • Hong Kong
    • Official sites
      • Magnum Films (Australia)
      • Official site (Japan)
      • Mandarin
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 15 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Atmos

    Related news

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