This is a Taiwanese movie in MANDARIN CHINESE with ENGLISH SUBTITLES. You will have to read the subtitles the whole movie if you don’t speak Mandarin.
I’m usually never in the mood for subtitles no matter how good the movie looks but full disclosure I’m attempting to learn Mandarin so I was fine with the subtitles this go around. It’s actually a really beautiful movie with great music and subtle, modest romance.
I don’t remember anyone’s name and I’m not looking their names up because it really doesn’t matter to the story. I am writing about this **WITH SPOILERS*** so if you are one of the many “SHHHH no spoilers!!! why oh why God?! You ruined my life by discussing a movie in its entirety” people….then this is not for you.
So there is this guy (let’s call him main character boy) and he is starting as a new student in a music high school. This girl (let’s call her supporting character girl) is showing him around the school. He ditches her to go explore the music building and hears wonderful music playing. When he goes to the piano room he sees another girl (let’s call her main character girl) on a ladder far away from the piano. For whatever reason, she doesn’t own up to being the talented musician who was just playing the amazing music he just heard (she was probably socialized to be humble at all costs…eye roll… because unfortunately this nonsense is pervasive in a lot of different cultures… and she’s also just shy…ugh…girls…. we have so far to go).
Main character boy and girl form a romantic friendship that includes bicycle rides home, trips to the record store, stolen glances in the classroom, and eventually the cutest kiss on a rooftop. I liked that the camera angle was from behind the two as they were seated for their kiss. It’s as if the audience should respect that this is a private moment between the 2 of them, which makes it that much more powerful. Aww to be young and in love… (distant stare into the unknown….. oh romance you are a powerful drug…. just when I think I have you outta my system, you snake your way back into my life vicariously through romantic movies, damn you romance…. fist shake…. damn you!).
There is a miscommunication that ends up in main character boy kissing supporting character girl instead of his main squeeze main character girl! So what does main character girl do? SHE GHOSTS THE HELL OUT OF HIM LIKE A BOSS!!!!! She straight up disappears which is concerning because she is in high school and education first, ladies! But as a response to a man’s foolishness, I was completely here for it! I would’ve been out too.
Main character boy: It was just a…
Me: …………… GHOSTED. GONE. BYE.
A lot more happens and the movie pivots to science fiction/fantasy but that’s all I feel like writing about. Awesome movie, thumbs up.
Olusala Sisters 