K-Drama 
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WOW - Just WOW
Powerful movie. I won't give any spoilers. I will say that my university Chinese instructor shows a couple of movies every semester and I am going to recommend this one to her for fall 2025. I am also going to see if I can actually find a DVD available for purchase.I didn't cry but I definitely could feel tension and sadness within myself while watching this. I was never bullied and to the best of my knowledge I didn't know anyone who was bullied when I was in school. BUT, I am an English tutor now and one of my students had to transfer schools because he was being bullied so much. My heart hurt for him because he is a delightful third grader.
Anyway, I would highly recommend watching this movie. Excellent work by the cast. This came out in 2019 and I noticed two actors that I have seen in dramas I have watched so it was cool to see them in some of their earlier work. I also loved the realism of the faces done by makeup people. The characters looked like real people instead of the perfectly made up idol faces we see in TV dramas.
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Whaou
I actually watched it because my friend wanted to watch it. I came with no expectations and didn't even knew what it was going to be about.I am not a fan of bully stories but I think the way the actors really portrayed EVERY emotions made me so vunerable and I felt every single sensation. They are making us swim into our cruel reality. They trust, help, love each other through everything. They are here for the other, not alone.
This movie is art. Visually it is amazing but we can't stop only at its beauty. They are putting meaning in everything. Even tho i am not a fan of long movies, the thought of it ending never occured to me once.
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One of the best chinese dramas ever watched
I loved it. The acting of the main leads was brilliant. It is a must-watch drama that you could watch again and again. I wish there were more brilliant movies and TV shows like these. I just wish it could have ended a little differently. After everything they had to go through, I wish it had ended a little differently. (Don't want to give away too much).Was this review helpful to you?
When survival is the only thing that matters
Better Days hit me much harder than I expected. What starts as a story about school bullying slowly becomes something much heavier — a look at how lonely and brutal adolescence can be when the system around you only cares about results.Chen Nian and Xiao Bei feel incredibly real as characters. Neither of them are perfect, but that’s exactly what makes their bond so powerful. They’re just two kids trying to survive in a world that has already given up on them.
The film is quiet, intense, and emotionally exhausting in the best way. By the end I didn’t just feel sad — I felt like I had witnessed something painfully honest about growing up.
Definitely one of the most moving films I’ve watched in a long time.
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It’s Interesting
I always had a question why… a person with criminal background can still be a teacher… but it’s China laws I don’t know… The casting was awesome and the totally watched it more then 2 times. Even though I have not directly experienced bullying but this movie gives me a idea… but I still like the ending how she stopped a little girl from being bullied… why is she a teacher though. Lastly the romance between them was kind of cute not gonna lie. it will be cuter if there was more of it. Anyways highly recommendWas this review helpful to you?
You'll protect the world. I'll protect you.
This movie features the relationship of two broken teens that find solace in each other in very dark moments in their life. The way they care for each other and how their bond was formed through trauma was both heartbreaking and amazing. It is a dark and heavy watch which still had some welcome (while unexpected) moments of hope and light shining through the pain.The cinematography was great : there a lot of striking scenes that left me a memorable impression. The way the director managed to bring to screen the tension felt by young people going through exams and social pressure at that crucial moment of time was excellent. The way the few moments of freedom and carefreeness shown among the heavy burden carried by the leads was very moving.
The cast did overall an excellent job with Zhou Dong Yu and Jackson Yee being incredible. I did not know Zhou Dong Yu and but I already knew that Jackson Yee was amazing...Here they both impressed me so much that I for sure plan to watch more of their filmography. The way their eyes bore so much weight and pain and care : simply striking !
I would strongly recommend this to people that are looking for a well-written story supported by excellent acting. There are some minor flaws regarding its pacing and the fact I would have loved to see even more deepened some elements but overall it took me on an intense journey that I will not forget.
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A film that deserves a 10/10 sincerely
Of all the films I have been able to see on the issues addressed, THIS film is my top 1:The subject matter is bullying, a bit cliché at first glance, and social pressure / pressure on young people at school. During the whole movie, we can see several times propaganda about studies, like for example "the intelligent go forward and the idiot go backwards" (it was something like that, but the main idea is that). Then we see that the personal problems of the characters are not "important" according to the adult's point of view.
That leaves a lot to be said about the society in which we live in China mainly.
But what stands out the most is the social differentiation between the characters: we have the typical girl who studies a lot, first in her class but who doesn't live in good conditions, her mother is a swindler and lives constantly in hiding, that's why she is rarely seen.
On the other hand we have the boy, a delinquent who doesn't go to class, therefore a person registered as dangerous, who lives in bad conditions, abandoned by his parents but who finds refuge with the girl, a refuge of love and affection that he has not been able to live.
They are two opposing characters who live in different worlds, but who become attached to each other because they have one thing in common: they both seek protection and love. Throughout the story, we follow them in their lives and we become attached to them.
It deserves a 10 because you can't find a film like this, the story is touching and unique. A masterpiece!
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Thanks to that one insta reel that made me watch this
What a movie! I was captivated by the aura of it by watching some clips and I'm glad I gave it a try. The story portrayed in this two hour fifteen minutes movie left me with so much emotions and thoughts. One thing I'd admit, the acting of both the leads was splendid. You could see the eyes talk, you could feel the sadness right through the screen. I was spoiled somewhere that ot didn't have a happy ending but I'm glad it wasn't the case. I'd not have the courage to move on otherwise. (I had to live through the college entrance trauma once again though.) Anyways, don't let anything or anyone stop you from watching this masterpiece. I know I'd rewatch it again and again.Was this review helpful to you?
A Heartbreaking and Raw Masterpiece of Pure Devotion!
Better Days (2019) is a phenomenal, raw, and deeply devastating cinematic masterpiece that grips your soul from the very first minute. It is an incredibly powerful exploration of school bullying, societal pressure, and the desperate cry for survival.Story (10/10):The narrative is exceptionally well-written, gritty, and brutally realistic. It follows a heavily bullied high school student preparing for the gaokao exams and a young street thug who becomes her protector. The plot doesn't sugarcoat anything—it showcases the terrifying dark side of human nature and peer cruelty. What makes this film a supreme masterpiece, however, is the profound emotional weight of its romance. It is a slow-burn story about two lonely souls finding a safe haven in each other, leading to a level of unconditional sacrifice and devotion that will completely tear your heart apart. The pacing is intense and flawless.Acting & Cast (10/10):Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee delivered absolute masterclass, historical-level performances. Their on-screen chemistry is legendary and intensely electric. Zhou Dongyu is breathtaking, bringing raw vulnerability and immense quiet strength to Chen Nian. Jackson Yee is absolute perfection as Xiao Bei, embodying a rough, morally grey street boy who turns into the most fiercely protective, devoted male lead you will ever see. His willingness to sacrifice everything, defy the law, and bear any pain just to protect her future is so profoundly moving it will make you cry a river.Overall:Better Days is a mandatory 10/10 watch that leaves a permanent mark on your heart. Driven by elite performances, a brilliant script, and a tragic yet intensely beautiful love story built on ultimate protection, it is an unforgettable masterpiece. Absolute perfection!Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best Chinese films I have seen
A deeply emotional impact, especially when discussing bullying, social tension, friendship, love, and the difficult adolescent mindset and life. Amazing cinematography and acting. A perfect balance between drama, romance, thriller, and crime genres. This is one of the best Chinese films I have seen. It evokes strong emotions and makes you reflect not only on your own life but also on the lives of others.Was this review helpful to you?
