So Young (film)
| So Young | |
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| Directed by | Zhao Wei |
| Produced by | Stanley Kwan (executive producer) |
| Screenplay by | Li Qiang |
| Based on |
To Our Youth that is Fading Away by Xin Yiwu |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Dou Peng |
| Cinematography | Li Ran |
| Edited by | Chan Chi-wai |
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| Distributed by | China Film Group |
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Release date
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Running time
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132 minutes |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Budget | 30 million yuan (US$5 million) |
| Box office | 718 million yuan (US$118 million) |
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.
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.
The film has become a major success at the Chinese box office, grossing over US$118 million with a US$5 million budget.
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 she would 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 felt 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 came from province 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 will never fade away.
Wei also befriended Lao Zhang and his roommate Xu Kaiyang, architecture majors, during the college clubs and activities fair. Kaiyang came from a well-to-do family and started his romantic pursuit for Wei, but Wei would only regard 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 dormroom, except one bed and corner that was neat and clean. Lao Zhang said this spot 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 started fumbling with the parts. At this moment Xiaozheng came back and angrily yelled out, "What are you doing there?" Startled and swinging around to see who was yelling at her, Wei knocked the model off the table. Xiaozheng managed to save his model by shoving Wei out of the way. Wei stumbled to the floor and was enraged at her humiliation. Wei angrily demanded an apology from Xiaozheng, but Xiaozheng coolly replied that he had nothing to apologize for and that it was her fault to touch his building model. From then on, Wei was determined to repeatedly humiliate Xiaozheng as a revenge to at least get his apology that she believed she deserves. Through her attempts Wei realized she in fact, liked Xiaozheng. From Lao Zhang and Weijuan, Wei learned that Xiaozheng came 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 stalked Xiaozheng to get his attention, much to his annoyance. Eventually, Xiaozheng was impressed by her enthusiasm and determination, and agreed to be her boyfriend.
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