description Better Days Overview
"Better Days" is a 2019 Chinese coming-of-age drama film directed by Derek Tsang that explores themes of teenage bullying and the intense pressures of the Chinese college entrance examination system. Starring Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee, the narrative follows a top student and a troubled youth who find solace amid severe academic and social adversity. It was a massive commercial success at the Chinese box office and received critical acclaim for its stark portrayal of youth violence. The film was selected as Hong Kong's entry for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
help Better Days FAQ
What happens between Chen Nian and Xiao Bei in Better Days?
Chen Nian, played by Zhou Dongyu, is a bullied student preparing for the gaokao examination when she forms an alliance with street youth Xiao Bei. Jackson Yee plays Xiao Bei, who begins protecting her as the violence surrounding them escalates.
Is Better Days based on China's gaokao exam system?
The gaokao provides the story's pressure-cooker backdrop, with Chen Nian's future tied to her performance on the national university entrance examination. The film connects that academic pressure to bullying, social inequality, and adults' failure to protect students.
Which Oscar category was Better Days nominated in?
Better Days represented Hong Kong and received a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. It was directed by Derek Tsang and originally released in 2019.
Is Better Days primarily a romance or a crime drama?
It combines coming-of-age romance with a dark crime story about bullying, death, and an attempted cover-up. The relationship between Chen Nian and Xiao Bei drives the film, but its treatment of school violence is central rather than incidental.
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