Somewhere Winter (2019)

"Will you wait for me?"

Somewhere Winter told the story of a Beijing university student’s up and down relationship with a Taiwanese businessman. An Ran would have to decide how long she was willing to wait for Qi Xiao and if the timing would ever be right.

An Ran desperately wants to attend her idol’s first concert in Beijing but doesn’t have a ticket. When hope was lost a man hands her a ticket after his date didn’t show up. Such began the coincidental run ins for An and Qi Xiao before they became more purposeful. Problems with Qi’s family, on-again-off-again lover, and his business cause Qi to ask An to wait for him, a habit that covers 6 years. In the present, An returns to Beijing with her estranged daughter when An’s father is dying. After the funeral as fate would have it, the daughter makes the acquaintance of Qi’s son and the two find a mystery to be solved.

I’m an old, cranky Butterfly and did not see this romance as a great love for the ages. An Ran was a college student so in her late teens or around 20 when she met the older Qi. This for me was the story of a first young love, when you are sure it is the most powerful love of all time and will always endure. No sacrifice is too great for it. As conflicts and separations continue to arise and the timing is never right, maturity and pain kick in for self-preservation and enlightenment.

Ma Si Chun and Wallace Huo did an admirable job of selling the love that couldn’t quite touch. The film didn't do anything to make them look 28 years older when telling the story in the present which was a bit confusing. Zhang Yao played An’s best girl who stood with her through all her heartbreaks.

I enjoyed this film even if it got to the point I was hoping the couple would not get together as An’s needs were almost never met. Somewhere Winter may not have been a love for the ages, but it was also a tale of how first love can overwhelm the senses and common sense, and cause a young woman to throw caution to the wind. First loves don't always mean last loves, although it’s always possible.

9 August 2025

Spoilery comments below:





















The writer(s) chickened out and gave us an open ending. After all the times Qi let her down and went radio silent, I have a hard time seeing An giving up the life she had created to go back to him. Even the last time before the scandal erupted, his eyes were darting looking for the door when he realized he didn’t have enough money to start his hot pot restaurant without An’s help. She sacrificed 6 years of her life for a few days of happiness, not a great predicter of a happy future with this man. But then again, I’m old, cranky, and less forgiving…with a long memory. lol

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One to see

I almost started sobbing in the end really. Based on the description it's not really what you would expect, but in a pretty good way. In my opinion it is more about a daughter learning about the ups and downs of her seemingly unaffected mother who was phased by the deaths of her husband and father in law. Through this we learn what her mother meant when she said, "Goodbyes are easier with the ones dead than those alive." She had her heart broken time again by her loved one saying goodbye and had to put herself back together time and time again making her a character that you pity by the end and maybe mad at her even though you understand why she did what she did.
The casting is very great Sandra and Vicky are two talented actresses and we were able to feel everything that they felt especially in the end. One thing I thought awkward was that Qi Yitian was seemingly playing a 20-23 year old but his actor at the time was 30-31 so while watching this all I could think was that he doesn't look like he is in his early twenties.
The music really gets to you in the end and while the lyrics are a bit corny they will tear at your heart. Overall this is a movie that you should watch if you get the chance!! Maybe this won't become your favorite movie but one you can enjoy!!

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