So Young (film)

So Young (simplified Chinese: 致我们终将逝去的青春; traditional Chinese: 致我們終將逝去的青春) is a 2013 Chinese drama film directed by Zhao Wei. It is based on the best-selling novel of the same name To Our Youth that is Fading Away by Xin Yiwu. The film is Zhao's directorial debut.

So Young
Directed byZhao Wei
Produced byStanley Kwan (executive producer)
Screenplay byLi Qiang
Based onTo Our Youth that is Fading Away
by Xin Yiwu
Starring
Music byDou Peng
CinematographyLi Ran
Edited byChan Chi-wai
Production
company
Co-production:
  • Beijing Enlight Pictures
  • Pulin Films Co., Ltd
  • Beijing Ruyi Xinxin Film Investment
  • Beijing Max Times Cultural Development
  • Dook Publishing
Distributed byChina Film Group
Release date
  • April 26, 2013 (2013-04-26)
Running time
132 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Budget30 million yuan
(US$5 million)
Box office718 million yuan (US$118 million)[1]

The film's English-language title alludes to the song "So Young" by the British alternative rock band Suede from their self-titled debut album. In addition to the novel, the film was also based in part by Zhao's own personal college experience in the 1990s.[2]

The film has become a major success at the Chinese box office, grossing over US$118 million with a US$5 million budget.[1]

Plot

Zheng Wei started her college freshman year as a civil engineer major to be in the same city as her childhood playmate, Lin Jing, whom she determined to marry one day. When Wei visited Jing at his college dormitory however, Jing's roommate told her Jing left for America. Unable to understand why Jing abruptly left without saying goodbye, Wei was left confused and heartbroken. Back in her college dormitory, Wei became close friends with her three roommates, Ruan Guan, the most beautiful and popular girl in the class; Li Weijuan, a practical and realistic girl who comes from a poor town but determined to marry well; and Zhu Xiaobei, a tomboy. The four girls talked about their goals in life, and all cheered to Ruan Guan's ambition—to have a youth that never fades away.

Wei was befriended by architecture majors Lao Zhang and his roommate Xu Kaiyang. Kaiyang came from a well-to-do family and started a romantic pursuit for Wei, but Wei only regarded him as a friend. One evening Wei went to Lao Zhang and Kaiyang's dorm room to borrow their DVDs. Wei was amazed and disgusted by the messy condition of the male dorm room, except one bed and corner that is uncannily neat and clean. Lao Zhang explained that this bed belonged to their disciplined and hardworking roommate, Chen Xiaozheng. Laozhang went out of the room to find his DVDs, leaving Wei alone in the room. Wei saw a near-finished building model on the table and curiously started to fumble with the parts. At this moment Xiaozheng came back and angrily yelled out, "What are you doing?" Startled and swinging around to see who yelled, Wei knocked the model off the table. Xiaozheng managed to save his model by shoving Wei out of the way, who fell in a mess on the floor.

Enraged in humiliation, Wei angrily demanded an apology from Xiaozheng, but Xiaozheng coolly replied that he has nothing to apologize for and that it was her fault for touching his model. From this moment, Wei was determined to repeatedly humiliate and pester Xiaozheng until she gets the apology she believed she deserves. Through her attempts Wei came to the startling realization that in fact, she liked Xiaozheng. From Lao Zhang and Weijuan, Wei learned that Xiaozheng comes from a poor family and was raised by a strict mother, hence his aloof and disciplined personality. Wei declared her interest in Xiaozheng, then openly, relentlessly, and shamelessly stalks Xiaozheng to get his attention, much to his annoyance. Eventually, Xiaozheng, impressed by her enthusiasm, determination, and spirit, found himself to like Wei too, and the two started dating.

During the rest of their college life and relationship, Xiaozheng and Wei found that they have starkly contrasting personalities. Although he appreciated Wei's fiery enthusiastic personality, Xiaozheng also reprimanded Wei at times for her laid-back and undisciplined attitude towards her coursework. Wei asked Xiaozheng why he was always so serious about everything. Xiaozheng replied, "I don't know what your attitude towards your life is, but my life is like a building that can only be built once, so I cannot afford any margin of error, not even a centimeter's width." Due to his family's modest financial circumstances, Xiaozheng felt that he needed to do anything and everything he can to ensure the best possible professional future for himself.

Eventually graduation came upon Wei and Xiaozheng. At the on-campus recruitment and interview fair, Wei hoped she and Xiaozheng could find work at the same institute, thus remain together. Unbeknownst to Wei, Xiaozheng had applied to and obtained a graduate fellowship to study architecture in America. When Wei finally learned of his plan, she confronted Xiaozheng to ask why she was the last one to know. Xiaozheng explained that he could not tell her because he was afraid of hurting her and reiterated that he could not make any mistake in his life, thus he had to make this choice of leaving her to make a better future for himself.

A few years later, Wei became a mature professional who excelled in her work, much different from her bygone youthful days. One day she suddenly encountered Lin Jing. Jing explained that he left abruptly then because he learned his father was having an affair with Wei's mother, so he could not face Wei. He never went to America, but avoided contact with Wei. The one time when he saw Wei on at her campus, she was happy with Xiaozheng. Now however, he wanted to come back and rekindle their friendship and, if possible, romance. At this time, Xiaozheng also returned from America as a renowned and accomplished architect. Though he had everything professionally that he was determined to get, Xiaozheng found the life that he had gained empty and crippled. He deeply regretted letting go of Wei, realizing his time with her was the only time he could be his true self, thus he also wanted to rekindle their relationship. However, Wei on their first meeting firmly rejected Xiaocheng. Not long afterward, Ruan Guan was killed in a car accident when trying to meet her university boyfriend one last time before she marries another man. Wei, in grief, asked Lin Jing to marry her. However, she later called it off when Lin Jing told Wei about another girl that loved him during their time apart. Afterwards, Xiaocheng and Wei met once more at the aquarium to reminisce. There Xiaozheng asks Wei, "Can I start over, and love you again?" to which Wei replies, "Xiaozheng, we spent our youth together, we owe each other nothing... youth is something you can only relive in memory."

Cast

Casting

Xin Yiwu, author of the novel, has mentioned that Zhao Wei was actually her choice to play the lead character of "Zheng Wei". However, Zhao declined the offer, and opted to direct the film.[3]

Besides Mark Chao and Han Geng, a majority of the cast are newcomers, including Yang Zishan, who played the story's protagonist Zheng Wei.[4] Zhao stated, "They're very green and new. Sometimes they even lack common sense. But I like working with them because they're down-to-earth...What they lack in experience, they replace with enthusiasm."[5]

Production

For this film, Zhao Wei intended to take the story in a panorama view to the life of college students in the 1990s, "not just a love triangle", "I'd like to devote this film to everyone out there who had a similar youth... It’s a memory shared by those who were born on the Chinese Mainland between the 1970s and early 80s."[6] Zhao also bought the rights to Suede's song for the film.[7]

Production on the film started from March 3 and ended on June 22, 2012.[8][9]

Soundtrack
  • Theme song: "To Youth" (致青春)[10]
    • Composer: Dou Peng
    • Lyricist: Li Qiang
    • Performer: Faye Wong

Reception

Critical response

After the premiere of the film in Beijing, it has gained favorable reviews from critics and audience, and has been dubbed a "mature directorial debut".[11]

It has also gained positive reviews from English-language critics. Dereke Elley of Film Business Asia gave the film a 7 out of 10, describes the film as "an impressive directorial debut" and praised the film's "powerhouse first 90 minutes" as "that draw an involving portrait of love, friendship, ambition and broken dreams among a group of university students..." However, Elley criticized the last portion of the film, and states "as the film abruptly flashes forward several years to pick up the characters in the big city, all the dramatic credit accumulated to that point is squandered by a final 40 minutes that seem rushed and fabricated, with none of the earlier dramatic traction." Elley summoned up "As a two-part movie running some three hours, So Young could have been a truly epic portrait of youthful emotional errors and their later consequences. As it stands, it's a remarkable directorial debut by Zhao that's well acted by its ensemble cast but is more of an ambitious, great-looking torso than a single movie." Elley also states "One can only hope that one day an extended Director's Cut of the film will eventually emerge on ancillary."[12]

Maggie Lee of Variety described the film as an "accomplished directing debut" and "a lyrical ode to youth at its most fearless and foolhardy."[13] Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Anchored by an engaging performance by Yang Zishan in her first lead role, Zhao's film proves the actress turned director adept with images and actors." "The film’s first 90 minutes make for a complete enough film that the bloated, soapy final 40 become a distraction from Zhao and Li’s careful character construction earlier on. It’s been rumored that Zhao’s original cut clocked in at three hours, and so in that light the rushed, half-baked feel of the last act becomes clear. But even with more time the “adult” segment of the film feels out of place, tonally and stylistically. Thankfully Zhao makes the most of her cast, who carry the film farther than it has a right to go."[14] Tay Huizhen of MovieXclusive (Singapore) gave the film a rating of 4.5/5.[15]

Top Ten Lists

  • 10th - Lie Fu, Asia Weekly[16]
  • 10th - Popular Cinema Magazine[17]
  • 10th - Mainland/Taiwan/Hong Kong Film Poll (Organized by Taiwan Film Board and China Film Critics Society)[18]
  • 10th - Hong Kong Film Critics Association
  • 8th - Taiwan Film Critics Society
  • Mainland Film of the Year - Southern Weekly[19]

Box Office

In mainland China, the film grossed 45 million yuan in the opening-day, and broke the opening-day box office record for a non-3D Chinese language film.[20] The film also surpassed Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons in advanced sales according to online box office tabulation.[21] The film went on to gross 141 million yuan in its opening weekend, and Zhao became the first Chinese female director to have a first feature film to gross over the 100 million yuan mark.[22] Through May 5, its cume was $76.72M. In an interview, Zhao Wei said "I’m given box office figures every other day. I feel OK. I am very satisfied with what we’ve taken. You can’t be too greedy."[23]

Accolades
List of awards and nominations
Award Category Nominee Result
22nd Shanghai Film Critics Awards Best New Director Zhao Wei Won
Films of Merit Won
EntGroup Film Industry Awards[24] Best Innovative Marketing Film Won
Best Production Placement Film Won
29th Golden Rooster Awards Best Directorial Debut Zhao Wei Won
Best Adapted Writing Li Qiang Nominated
Best Actress Yang Zishan Nominated
Best Cinematography Li Ran Nominated
Best Music Dou Peng Nominated
Best Art Direction Li Yang Nominated
50th Golden Horse Awards Best New Director Zhao Wei Nominated
Best Adapted Writing Li Qiang Won
Best Original Film Song Dou Peng (Composer)
Li Qiang (Lycrist)
Fay Wong (Performer)		 Nominated
Best Art Direction Li Yang Nominated
8th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum New Director of the Year Zhao Wei Won
New Actress of the Year Yang Zishan
Zhang Shiying		 Won
New Cinematoprapher of the Year Li Ran Won
New Production Designer of the Year Li Yang Won
5th Australia International Chinese Film Festival Best Actress Yang Zishan Won
9th Chinese American Film Festival Golden Angel Award Films Won
Best Director Zhao Wei Won
5th China Image Film Festival Best Actress Yang Zishan Won
Best Supporting Actress Jiang Shuying Won
10th Guangzhou Student Film Festival Favorite Director Zhao Wei Won
56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Actress Yang Zishan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Jiang Shuying Nominated
Best Screenplay Li Qiang Nominated
15th Huabiao Awards Outstanding Youth Filmmaking Won
Outstanding New Actress Yang Zishan Won
Outstanding New Actor Bao Beier Nominated
33rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Chinese Language Film from the Two Coasts Won
8th Asian Film Awards Best Screenplay Li Qiang Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Mark Chao Nominated
Best New Performer Jiang Shuying Won
21st Beijing College Student Film Festival Best Directorial Debut Zhao Wei Nominated
Best Actress Yang Zishan Nominated
5th China Film Director's Guild Awards Film of the Year Nominated
Director of the Year Zhao Wei Nominated
New Director of the Year Zhao Wei Nominated
Screenplay of the Year Li Qiang Nominated
Actor of the Year Mark Chao Nominated
32nd Hundred Flowers Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Director Zhao Wei Won
Best Screenplay Li Qiang Won
Best Actress Yang Zishan Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Bao Beier Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Han Geng Nominated

References
  1. Kevin Ma (2014-02-23). "Monkey King joins billion yuan club". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 2015-03-19.
  2. Clarence Tsui (2013-04-22). "China Box Office: 'G.I. Joe' Pulls in $33.5 Million in First Week". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. Marie Clair (China Edition): February, 2013.
  4. ELLE (China Edition): October 2012.
  5. Vicki Zhao confident with "So Young". Yahoo! Malaysia. Mar 15, 2013.
  6. Preview: So Young. Time Out Beijing. 23 April 2013.
  7. Southern Weekend: March 25, 2013.
  8. 赵薇现身南医大引围观 导演处女作昨开机被赞“有范儿” Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine. Jinling Evening News. March 4, 2012.
  9. 赵薇处女作《致青春》杀青在即，选址八月照相馆拍摄 Archived 2012-07-04 at the Wayback Machine. China Economic Review. June 29, 2012.
  10. Faye sings for Zhao Wei. Sina English. March 20, 2013.
  11. 赵薇《致青春》获好评：成熟的处女作 Sina.com April 22, 2013
  12. "Review: So Young". Film Business Asia. 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013.
  13. "So Young Review". Variety. June 2, 2013.
  14. "So Young: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. June 5, 2013.
  15. "Review: So Young". MovieXclusive. June 12, 2013.
  16. Lie Fu (January 12, 2014). "Top Ten Chinese Films of the Year 2013". Asia Weekly. 第28卷第2期
  17. Top Ten Chinese Films of the Year Popular Cinema Jan 24, 2014
  18. Top Ten Films of the Year Guiyang Evening Post Oct 29,2014
  19. Film of the Year Southern Weekly Official Weibo.com Jan 11, 2014
  20. 《致青春》首日超4500万破纪录(图) Sina.com April 27, 2013
  21. "Zhao Wei's "So Young" breaks record". Yahoo! Singapore. 30 April 2013.
  22. 《致青春》1.4亿 赵薇成首位处女作过亿女导演 CRI Online April 29, 2013
  23. Actress-Turned-Director’s Chinese Drama ‘So Young’ Breaks Local Records Deadline.com May 7, 2013
  24. 第四届"艺恩电影产业奖". entgroup. June 19, 2013.
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