MariaGazari

Us and Them 后来的我们, is one of those films that reminds me why cinema can be so much more than a story being told. It is a beautifully crafted, deeply moving film that combines emotional depth with thoughtful direction, expressive cinematography, and a screenplay rich in meaning. I went into it without expecting to be so profoundly affected, and it turned out to be an exceptional experience. 💯

What impressed me most was how naturally the film develops its characters and their relationship. The story revolves around familiar themes of love, ambition, missed opportunities, and the passage of time, but its strength lies in the execution and the details. Feelings emerge through everyday moments, silences, gestures, and the things its characters cannot quite say to each other. The result feels honest and painfully human.

Jing Boran and Zhou Dongyu are wonderful together. Their chemistry feels effortless, and their performances capture both the warmth of falling in love and the complicated emotions that remain when two people have grown apart. Their expressive faces and subtle reactions make the relationship believable, giving its tender moments warmth and its painful ones real weight.

The cinematography and direction are among the film's greatest strengths. The beautiful snow-covered landscapes, the carefully composed exterior shots, and the contrast between the colourful memories of the past and the black and white present create a distinctive visual atmosphere. The colour choices are not merely aesthetic: they reflect the characters' emotional worlds and connect directly with the story of the video game. The editing, visual composition, and restrained use of silence work together to let images convey what dialogue cannot. The result is a film whose visual beauty serves its storytelling rather than simply decorating it.

The black and white video game, is one of the film's most meaningful details. Jianqing explains that, if Ian never finds Kelly, the world will lose its colours. The game becomes a deeply personal expression of his relationship with Xiaoxiao, giving shape to feelings and hopes he struggles to communicate directly. When Xiaoxiao eventually discovers the message, “Sorry, Ian will always love Kelly,” the story within the game takes on a new meaning. It preserves something of their shared past, while its ending expresses a love that remains even when life has taken them in different directions. I found this connection between the game's narrative and the film's visual symbolism particularly moving.

Another detail I loved is the recurring phrase, “Pick the stars from the sky and bring pearls from the ocean.” Its Chinese counterpart, 上九天揽月，下五洋捉鳖, literally evokes reaching into the heavens to seize the moon and descending into the oceans to catch turtles. It is an extravagant expression of attempting the seemingly impossible, while the film's English subtitles give it a more romantic, poetic image. The phrase becomes especially meaningful when the two characters meet again years later and finally say goodbye. What once expressed the boundless promises of love becomes a wish for the other's happiness, even when they can no longer share a life. The words remain, but time has changed their meaning.

One of the film's most heartbreaking moments comes when a small, unexpected interruption by a phonecall, changes the meaning of a seemingly hopeful encounter. I was still hoping for reconciliation when the reality of their lives apart became impossible to ignore. The scene is devastating precisely because it does not need an elaborate explanation; one small detail is enough to change everything.

The story also explores the painful contrast between what we achieve in life and what we may lose along the way. Its central sentiment is captured perfectly in the line:

“Later, we had everything, but we no longer had each other.”

For me, this is the emotional heart of the film. Success and stability cannot necessarily replace the people and moments we have lost. Sometimes, we only fully understand the value of what we had when it is no longer possible to return to it.

I was equally moved by the tenderness and restraint in the relationship between Jianqing and his father. His father's understanding, the truths he chooses not to expose, and the love expressed through his letter reveal a quiet, unconditional affection. Jianqing only fully understands this after his father's death, adding another painful dimension to the film's exploration of love, family, and things understood too late.

I cried, and the film left me with a knot in my throat, but my appreciation goes far beyond its ability to make me emotional. What makes it exceptional for me is the way its screenplay, performances, visual storytelling, and carefully placed details reinforce one another. It reminded me that originality does not always require an unfamiliar premise. A familiar story can become something extraordinary when it is told with this much care, sincerity, and artistic intention.

Us and Them was an unexpectedly powerful experience for me, and one of the most moving films I have watched in a long time.

10/10. ❤️

P.S. Don’t skip the end credits. They include heartfelt messages from real people to those they love—words of love, regret, and things left unsaid. It’s a beautiful extension of the film’s central message, reminding us that these feelings exist far beyond the screen.