Better Days is a 2019 Chinese romantic drama film that has garnered widespread acclaim for its realistic depiction of high school life. It centers on two troubled high school students – introverted bookworm Chen Nian and streetwise school bully Bei Xiao – who form an unlikely bond.
If you enjoyed Better Days, you may be looking for similar thoughtful and moving films that provide an intimate look at the trials of growing up. Flavors of Youth, A Moment of Romance, Twenty, Shoplifters, Brooklyn, Us and Them, So Young, Under the Hawthorn Tree, Cry Me a Sad River and Fleet of Time are some movies similar yo bterre Days 2019.
In this article, we’ll explore 20 movies like Better Days and why you should add them to your watchlist.
Key Takeaways
- Better Days provides an impactful look at contemporary Chinese youth facing intense competition, anxieties, and despair. Its empathetic lens sets it apart.
- Movies like Flavors of Youth, Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Shoplifters also deliver thoughtful coming-of-age stories tackling real teen issues.
- The most compelling films about adolescence offer a window into the poignant, messy, and nostalgic process of growing up.
- Thoughtful teen movies resonate widely because they capture universal experiences and diverse perspectives on navigating adolescence.
What Makes Better Days So Impactful? An Indelible Theme
Better Days stands out for its empathetic portrayal of contemporary Chinese youth and refusal to sugarcoat the real problems teenagers face today. Instead of depicting high school as a lighthearted romp, it shows the intense competition, bullying, anxieties, and despair that many students grapple with.
Yet it also offers a message of hope, as Chen and Bei find friendship and manage to cope through their difficulties.
With its blend of realistic social commentary and an emotionally-engaging narrative, Better Days reminds audiences that behind every teenager’s facade is a complex individual trying their best to navigate life’s challenges.
20 Movies Like Better Days That Are Poignant Explorations of Youth
If you were drawn to Better Days’ thoughtful approach to the teenage experience, here are 20 movies like Better Days that also offer moving stories about growing up:
- Flavors of Youth
- A Moment of Romance
- Twenty
- Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Flipped
- Edge of Seventeen
- Boyhood
- Shoplifters
- Precious
- Brooklyn
- Us and Them
- Soulmate
- So Young
- So Long, My Son
- Under the Hawthorn Tree
- Our Times
- More than Blue
- Cry Me a Sad River
- Fleet of Time
- Chongqing Youth
Here’s a detailed breakdown of movies like Better Days list.
1. Flavors of Youth (2018)
This animated Chinese anthology film explores the struggles and nostalgia of childhood and adolescence across three different cities. With its poetic animation and emotional resonance, Flavors of Youth is a great pick for fans of Better Days.
2. A Moment of Romance (1990)
A classic Hong Kong romance drama that follows two teenagers from contrasting backgrounds who fall into a forbidden love affair. With vivid characters and a heartrending plot, it’s a must-watch for those who enjoyed Better Days’ central relationship.
3. Twenty (2015)
This coming-of-age comedy-drama from South Korea centers on three friends as they navigate love, school pressures, and finding their way in their 20s. It’s a fun yet thoughtful look at the period of life between adolescence and adulthood.
4. Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
This American cult film follows an introverted teenager as he deals with issues of mental health, friendship, and first relationships. It’s an engrossing portrait of the often messy process of coming-of-age.
5. Flipped (2010)
This romantic drama gives a nostalgic look back at adolescence through the evolving relationship between two contrasting teens over six years. Like Better Days, it’ll resonate with viewers through its thoughtful storytelling.
6. Edge of Seventeen (2016)
Starring Hailee Steinfeld, this funny yet honest movie captures teen life through an outspoken high school junior learning to find her place in the world. It’s humorous yet relatable in its depiction of family, friendship, and love as a teenager.
7. Boyhood (2014)
Richard Linklater’s epic coming-of-age drama chronicles a boy’s life from age 6 to 18. As we watch him grow up on-screen, the film provides a meditative look at adolescence and the memories that shape us.
8. Shoplifters (2018)
This moving Japanese drama focuses on an impoverished makeshift family taking in a girl they find on the street. It’s an impactful exploration of the meaning of family and growing up in emotional hardship.
9. Precious (2009)
Based on the novel Push, this American drama portrays the trauma, struggles, and hopes of a teen girl growing up in poverty and abuse. It provides a bracingly realistic look at difficult adolescence.
10. Brooklyn (2015)
A romantic period drama about a young Irish woman who immigrates to Brooklyn in the 1950s. As she builds a new life, she grapples with issues of homesickness, identity, and her future. It’s an evocative coming-of-age story.
11. Us and Them (2018)
This romantic Chinese drama follows two young dreamers who meet and fall in love during university in Beijing in the 1990s. Their contrasting personalities and ambitious goals take their relationship through ups and downs. Like Better Days, it offers an emotional look at young love and chasing one’s dreams.
12. Soulmate (2016)
A fantasy romance film that focuses on two teenagers who mysteriously exchange bodies due to a meteor shower. They get glimpses into each other’s vastly different high school experiences and learn important lessons about empathy and human connection.
13. So Young (2013)
Centered on a passionate young woman going to college in the early 2000s, this film navigates friendship, loss, and self-discovery. It’s an impactful, female-driven coming-of-age story set in a rapidly changing China.
14. So Long, My Son (2019)
Spanning several decades, this family drama examines the long-lasting impact of China’s one-child policy through the lives of two boys born in the same village. It’s an emotionally-complex multigenerational look at loss, grief, and the bonds of friendship.
15. Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)
This poignant romance takes place during China’s Cultural Revolution, following a love story between two rural teenagers separated by social class. Their secret relationship highlights the innocence of first love in the face of external obstacles.
16. Our Times (2015)
This Taiwanese high school romance follows a shy, unpopular student who makes a pact with the school rebel to help each other pursue their crushes. As they bond, feelings begin to emerge. Our Times captures the sweetness and angst of teen romance in an endearing story.
17. More than Blue (2018)
A romantic Taiwanese drama that chronicles a passionate relationship between two high school sweethearts over a decade. It movingly explores friendship, terminal illness, and the memories that shape who we are.
18. Cry Me a Sad River (2018)
Centered on four high school classmates coming of age in 1980s Shanghai, this film tackles longing, loss, and the fragility of youth. As it traces their intertwining paths into adulthood, it reflects on pivotal adolescent experiences and decisions.
19. Fleet of Time (2014)
This drama follows a group of high school friends over the course of a decade, looking back on their youth in 1970s China. It nostalgically explores their school days, romances, and the journeys they take as adulthood changes their relationships.
20. Chongqing Youth (2019)
Set in the economic boom of 1990s China, this film centers on an intense friendship between two very different teenage boys. One is bookish and shy, the other charismatic and reckless. As it traces their volatile bond into adulthood, it reflects on how youth shapes identity.
Why Coming-of-Age Films Like Chinese Movie Better Days Resonate
At their best, movies about adolescence like Better Days speak to universal human experiences. They remind us of the joy, pain, and nostalgia of teen life.
Though cultures and eras change, we connect to stories of adolescents navigating identity, relationships, and new challenges.
Here is a table providing key details about the 2019 Chinese film Better Days:
| Title | Better Days |
|---|---|
| Year | 2019 |
| Country | China |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Starring | Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yee |
| Awards | Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film, Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Film, Asian Film Award for Best Actress (Zhou Dongyu) |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Director | Derek Tsang |
| Writers | Jiu Yuexi, Xu Yimeng |
| Running time | 135 minutes | |
| Box office | $224 million USD |
Thoughtful coming-of-age films recognize teenagers as complex individuals each on their own journey. They validate the seriousness of problems faced at that age, from bullying and mental health issues to academic pressure and societal expectations. By portraying these struggles empathetically, they offer audiences catharsis and hope.
In the end, movies like Better Days resonate because they capture both the universality and uniqueness of growing up. We see our own stories reflected on screen and gain insight into the diverse lives of others. Coming-of-age movies remind us how the teenage experience shapes the adults we become.
FAQs
Where can I stream movies like “Better Days”?
Many of these films are available on streaming platforms like Netflix. However, availability may vary based on your location, so checking your local streaming services is advisable.
Can you recommend similar movies to “Better Days”?
Yes, films like “Our Times,” “More than Blue,” and “Cry Me a Sad River” offer similar themes of romance, drama, and the trials of youth, each with their unique storytelling styles and cultural nuances.
Are most coming-of-age movies lighthearted comedies?
No, genres range from serious drama to romance, comedy, animation, and sci-fi. But the most thoughtful explore the nuanced realities youth face.
What other countries have produced great coming-of-age films?
Japan (Shoplifters), South Korea (Twenty), Hong Kong (A Moment of Romance), America (Boyhood, Perks of Being a Wallflower), Ireland (Brooklyn), and more.
Why do thoughtful teen movies resonate with adult audiences?
They reflect our own coming-of-age experiences and remind us how adolescence shaped who we are. We gain insight into the diverse lives of modern teens.
Conclusion
Better Days stands out as a moving coming-of-age film that portrays the intense pressures faced by Chinese youth today. While cultures may differ, movies like Flavors of Youth, Shoplifters, and Precious remind us that the universal experiences of adolescence – first loves, friendships, struggles with identity – shape who we become. Thoughtful teen films provide insight and catharsis regardless of background. As Better Days illustrates, an empathetic lens on the joys and tribulations of growing up speaks across borders.
So if you were moved by Better Days, add these poignant explorations of the teenage experience to your watchlist. These human dramas remind us how our formative years shape us, wherever we’re from.
