Better Days

Better Days is a profoundly moving and emotionally engaging movie released in 2019, directed by Derek Tsang, featuring Dongyu Zhou, Jackson Yee, and Fang Yin. The movie is an intensely evocative drama that frames and represents societal issues with incredible honesty, genuine warmth and an inherently inspiring outlook on youth, resilience and overcoming adversity.

At the heart of this compelling movie is the relationship between two pivotal characters, brilliantly portrayed by Dongyu Zhou and Jackson Yee. Zhou gives life to the character Chen Nian, a high school student who is preparing for her college entrance exam while simultaneously grappling with bullying from her peers. Meanwhile, Yee takes on the role of Xiao Bei, a street thug who slowly forms a bond with Chen Nian and becomes her guardian angel in times of distress.

The duo shares a profound connection that is an amalgamation of shared struggles, an unspoken friendship, and a mutual understanding that resonates with authentic emotionality. Together, they navigate through the hardships of their difficult circumstances and find comfort in their shared bond. During a time of immense bullying pressure on Chen Nian, Xiao Bei steps into her life to give his protective companionship and they fall into an unexpected friendship.

Beyond the compelling central narrative, Better Days also offers a reflective look at pertinent societal issues. It scrutinizes the societal pressure and stress from China's high-stakes college entrance exams, referred to as gaokao, and the implications they have on the mental and emotional health of students. The film captures the harsh reality of academic pressure, bullying and the lengths that adolescents are sometimes forced to go to escape their predicaments. The film subtly communicates these topics, facilitating an empathetic understanding of the related issues.

Director Derek Tsang does a masterful job of translating these abstract societal realities into a deeply touching and heartfelt narrative. The movie narrates an honest representation of young life's intense emotional landscapes while exploring the desperation and gritty actions necessary for survival in a reality filled with trials and adversity. The equal parts of despair and hope are dealt with a balanced hand, and Tsang shows the human capacity to find light in the darkest situations.

The movie also puts a spotlight on the theme of bullying – showcasing both its impacts on the victims and the systemic societal indifference towards this issue. With a keen eye to detail and a conscious effort to remain genuine and raw, Better Days reveals the extent and the detrimental implications of bully-victim dynamics, specifically for those who are already in a vulnerable state due to societal pressures.

Dongyu Zhou and Jackson Yee’s performances are extraordinarily powerful, capturing the nuanced complexities of their characters and making them emotionally resonant. Together they maintain a captivating on-screen chemistry that propels the narrative forward, making the portrayal more real and more touching.

From a technical perspective, the film excels. Better Days has strong cinematography that frames the narrative in a visually appealing yet purposefully stark manner, immersing the viewer deeper into the lives of Chen Nian and Xiao Bei. The intricate attention to the environment, the sound and music design, and the editing all contribute to its unvarnished beauty, providing a rich and immersive auditory and visual experience.

In conclusion, Better Days is a movie that strikes at the viewer's heart with its unflinching portrayal of the struggles faced by young people under immense societal pressure. It is a story of resilience and companionship, of torment and heartache, but ultimately, it is a story of overcoming adversity and finding hope in the darkest circumstances. The brilliant performances by Dongyu Zhou and Jackson Yee, coupled with Derek Tsang's evocative interpretation of societal realities, make Better Days a film that stimulates thought, fosters empathy, and reminds us all of the power of compassion and understanding in enacting positive change.