Stand by Me (2024)

Touching story, worth to watch ⚠️ contain spoiler

It’s my first time writing a review because no one seems to does it, and this movie truly deserves more attention. I started watching for Karry Wang, but the young actor did a great job too. Both of them convey their emotions beautifully, especially Karry Wang—his eyes say everything, and he delivers a subtle yet impactful performance. Definitely worth a watch.

Life is hard, and some people really have no choice but to live the way Ma Liang does (though it’s not an excuse to do it anyway, and I appreciate that this movie doesn’t try to whitewash it but simply shows why he has to live like that). Ma Liang is trapped in a cycle of poverty, doing illegal jobs to survive, yet he still protects the small kindness in his heart. I love how, even while walking such a thorny road, he never wants Xuanxuan to follow the same path as him. Their relationship starts from a place of caution but gradually grows into something deeply tender. Even when the world gives him nothing, Ma Liang still chooses to give warmth to the little kid, who slowly finds his way into Ma Liang’s heart. Ma Liang himself never found a good adult to rely on, but he surely knows how to be one.

Their acting is so good that it feels natural watching their simple daily life. So simple, yet so genuine and filled with unspoken trust between them. Although some parts of the movie move at a slower pace, it never affected my view enough to lower my rating because the overall story is so beautiful, and every quiet moment matters. Even the supporting character gang, despite their limited screen time, have well-written relationships that add depth to the story.



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⚠️ Below here are some touching moment that I love. It contains spoilers, so beware:

The part when Ma Liang sings a lullaby to Xuanxuan is so sad; his voice genuinely broke my heart. And it’s the first time seeing him so vulnerable. He has to act as an older brother here, but the truth is he’s also a teenager that not much older than Xuanxuan and have to live such a hard life.

And the last scene—god, the last scene—must have been a very hard decision for Ma Liang, but he still chose to do it for Xuanxuan’s sake. The scene where he crouches down to tie Xuanxuan’s shoes at school is so heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same times, because Ma Liang still smiling gently, giving the boy the freedom he deserves, even if he’s about to cut off his own freedom. Like I said before, Karry Wang’s eyes truly say everything.

Love this story, super beautiful.

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